Court Orders FCTA Workers to Suspend Strike, Resume Duties
The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has ordered workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to suspend their ongoing strike and return to work, pending further hearing in a suit filed by the FCT authorities.
The order was issued on Tuesday by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following an application brought before the court by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA, seeking to halt the industrial action that has disrupted key services in the nation’s capital for nearly two weeks.
Granting an interlocutory injunction, Justice Subilim directed the striking workers to immediately resume their duties pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. The judge acknowledged that the grievances raised by the workers constituted a valid trade dispute but stressed that the right to embark on a strike is not absolute under the law.
He ruled that once a dispute has been formally referred to the National Industrial Court, workers are prohibited from continuing industrial action. Citing Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Dispute Act, the court held that the filing of an originating summons amounts to a formal referral, requiring the suspension of any ongoing strike.
“In the circumstances, an order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the claimants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimant. This order shall remain in force pending the determination of this suit,” the judge said.
Justice Subilim further warned that failure to comply with the provisions of Section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act could attract sanctions. The matter was subsequently adjourned until 23 March for further hearing.
Background
FCTA workers, under the Joint Union Action Committee, commenced an indefinite strike on 19 January 2026 over unresolved welfare issues, including unpaid salaries, promotion arrears and poor working conditions.
In response, the FCT minister approached the National Industrial Court, asking it to declare the strike illegal and restrain the unions and their members from continuing the action.
The workers opposed the application, insisting that their grievances remained unresolved despite engagements with the FCTA. At the hearing, counsel to the workers’ union, Maxwell Opara, urged the court to dismiss the application, arguing that granting the reliefs sought would amount to determining the substantive case at the interlocutory stage.
He also cautioned that directing workers to resume duties while salaries remained unpaid could worsen the situation, and called on the court to consider arbitration and compel the FCT minister to participate in negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute.
