The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim order directing workers under the Joint Union Action Committee to halt their ongoing strike action, following a suit filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside the FCT Administration.
The applicants approached the court in suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, naming the Chairman of the Joint Union Action Committee, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, as defendants. They sought an order preventing the union and its members from engaging in any form of industrial action, including strikes, picketing, or lockouts.
In his ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice E.D. Subilim acknowledged that the matter constituted a trade dispute and satisfied the legal requirements for such cases. However, he stressed that the right of workers to embark on industrial action is not without limits.
The judge held that once a labour dispute is formally referred to the National Industrial Court, workers are barred from continuing or initiating a strike. He added that any industrial action already in progress must be suspended until the court reaches a final decision on the matter.
Justice Subilim consequently granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants and their representatives from proceeding with further industrial action against the claimants, noting that the order would remain effective until the substantive suit is determined.
The case has been adjourned to March 23, 2026, for hearing.
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