The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja, has issued an interlocutory injunction restraining the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers’ union from continuing its ongoing strike action.
The court order bars the leadership and members of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), including their agents and affiliates, from embarking on strikes, picketing, road blockades, lockouts, or any activity capable of disrupting the operations of the FCTA.
The ruling followed an application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the FCTA, challenging the legality of the industrial action declared by the workers over unpaid promotion arrears and other outstanding entitlements.
Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Justice E. D. Subilim held that the applicants had established a strong case warranting judicial intervention to prevent a shutdown of government activities in the nation’s capital.
The court restrained the defendants—identified as Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, President and Secretary of JUAC respectively—from proceeding with the strike pending the determination of the substantive suit. The union officials were absent during the court proceedings.
Counsel to the FCTA, Dr Ogwu J. Onoja, SAN, argued that the strike was illegal and did not comply with the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act, warning that it would paralyse essential services within the FCT.
Justice Subilim also granted the FCTA leave to serve court processes on the defendants through substituted means, ordering that the originating summons be published in a national daily and pasted at the JUAC office within the FCTA Secretariat in Garki, Abuja.
According to the court, the suit raises critical legal questions, including whether JUAC qualifies as a registered trade union with the capacity to lawfully declare a strike under Nigerian labour laws.
The case has been adjourned to Monday, January 26, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
Reacting to the development, a union leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the workers would comply with the court process and defend their actions within the legal framework.
