The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has ordered workers in the Federal Capital Territory to suspend their ongoing strike, following an interlocutory injunction granted in favour of the FCT Administration.
The injunction was issued on Tuesday by Justice E.D. Subilim after an application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration against the Joint Union Action Committee.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, was instituted against the Chairman of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh.
The claimants asked the court to restrain the union and its members from embarking on industrial action, picketing, or any form of work stoppage.
While delivering his ruling, Justice Subilim acknowledged that the matter before the court constituted a trade dispute and had satisfied the legal requirements for adjudication.
However, he stressed that the right of workers to embark on a strike was not without limits.
“The right to embark on industrial action is not absolute,” the judge held.
He further ruled that once a trade dispute has been formally referred to the National Industrial Court, workers are barred from continuing with any strike action.
“Where such a strike is already ongoing, it must cease pending the determination of the substantive suit,” Justice Subilim said.
Granting the application, the court ordered the immediate suspension of the strike.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimants,” the judge stated. “This order shall remain in force pending the determination of the suit.”
The court subsequently adjourned the case to March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive matter.
More details are expected as proceedings continue.
