The National Industrial Court (NICN), Abuja, has stopped the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers’ union from continuing its strike action, issuing an interlocutory injunction against any form of industrial disruption.
The order restrains the leaders of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), their agents and members from embarking on strikes, picketing, lockouts, road blockades or any action capable of crippling activities of the FCTA.
The ruling followed an indefinite strike embarked upon by FCTA workers on Monday over alleged non-payment of promotion arrears and other entitlements.
Delivering his ruling on Thursday, January 21, 2026, Justice E. D. Subilim granted an application filed by the Minister of the FCT and the FCTA, holding that the proposed industrial action was capable of paralysing government operations.
JUAC President, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, listed as defendants in the suit, were absent from court.
Leading counsel to the FCTA, Dr Ogwu J. Onoja, SAN, argued that the strike was illegal and not in line with extant labour laws, insisting that it posed a serious threat to public administration in the nation’s capital.
Justice Subilim agreed, ruling that the applicants had established a strong case deserving of judicial protection. The court consequently restrained the union and its members from taking any step to shut down the FCTA.
In view of the defendants’ absence, the court also granted substituted service, ordering that court processes be published in a national newspaper and pasted at the JUAC office located at the FCTA Secretariat, Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
The originating summons is challenging the legality of the strike under the Trade Disputes Act and questioning the status of JUAC, which is reportedly not a registered trade union.
The case was adjourned to Monday, January 26, 2026, for hearing of the Motion on Notice.
Reacting to the development, a JUAC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the union would meet the government in court. “If they want us to continue our agitation in court, we are ready to defend our actions legally,” the official said.
(Independent)
