National Industrial Court Orders Suspension of FCT Workers' Strike in Nigeria

Court Mandates Immediate Suspension of Industrial Action

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja has ordered the immediate suspension of the ongoing strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). Justice E.D. Subilim delivered the interlocutory injunction on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, compelling the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) and its members to cease their industrial action. The ruling follows an application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA, seeking to halt the strike which they described as illegal.

Justice Subilim stated that while the workers' grievances constituted a trade dispute, the right to industrial action is not absolute once a matter has been referred to the National Industrial Court. He referenced Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Dispute Act, which stipulates that any ongoing strike must cease pending the determination of the case. The court found that the claimants had presented a compelling case warranting the injunction.

Background to the Strike and Workers' Demands

The FCTA workers, under the umbrella of JUAC, commenced an indefinite strike on January 19, 2026, citing a range of unresolved welfare issues. Their demands included:

• Unpaid salaries
• Promotion arrears
• Poor working conditions
• Unpaid Wage Awards
• Non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions
• Allegations of intimidation of workers

The FCTA had initially engaged in dialogue, but Minister Wike later accused political actors of hijacking the strike, prompting the administration to seek judicial intervention.

FCTA's Response and Minister Wike's Stance

In response to the industrial action, Minister Nyesom Wike approved N12 billion for the payment of January salaries for FCTA workers. He emphasized that the FCTA had addressed many of the workers' legitimate demands and warned that employees who failed to resume duties would face penalties. Wike reiterated the administration's commitment to dialogue but maintained that legal action became necessary when the dispute appeared to be politicized.

Union Reaction and Next Steps

Despite the court order, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has reportedly directed its Abuja-based affiliate unions to continue and intensify the strike. The NLC argued that the court ruling specifically targeted JUAC's President, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, and did not resolve the fundamental issues affecting the broader workforce. The NLC identified 'unpaid Wage Awards and promotion arrears, non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions, and the continued intimidation of workers' as key unresolved issues.

The National Industrial Court has adjourned the substantive hearing of the case to March 23, 2026, to further deliberate on the dispute.