By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NIC), sitting in Abuja, has ordered workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to suspend their ongoing strike action and return to work.
The court granted an interlocutory injunction following a suit filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, compelling workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to halt the strike.
The claimants dragged the Chairman of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, before the court in suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, seeking an order restraining the defendants and their agents from embarking on any industrial action, picketing, or lockout.
Delivering his ruling on Tuesday, Justice E. D. Subilim held that although the matter constituted a trade dispute and had met the required legal conditions, the right of workers to embark on industrial action was not absolute.
He ruled that workers are prohibited from participating in a strike once a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court, adding that where such a strike is already ongoing, it must cease pending the determination of the case.
“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 order shall remain in force pending the determination of this suit,” Justice Subilim ruled.
The court adjourned the matter until March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
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