National Industrial Court Orders FCTA Workers to Suspend Strike Pending Substantive Case

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja, has ordered workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to suspend their ongoing strike until the determination of the substantive suit filed before the court.

The ruling, described as interlocutory, came in response to a suit filed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the FCTA against the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) leadership Justice Emmanuel Subilim, who delivered the ruling, emphasized that while workers are entitled to industrial action under Nigerian law, this right is not absolute once a matter is brought before the National Industrial Court. The judge directed that all FCTA workers immediately cease the strike and resume work, pending the court’s full hearing of the dispute The ongoing strike, which began last week, involved a coordinated action by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), representing multiple unions under the FCTA, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). The industrial action was sparked by alleged unresolved welfare issues, including unpaid salaries, long-standing promotion arrears, and poor working conditions The strike disrupted operations across key federal institutions in Abuja, including the FCTA Secretariat, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and other critical agency offices, affecting service delivery to residents of the Federal Capital Territory. In granting the interlocutory injunction, Justice Subilim highlighted that once a dispute is before the court, industrial action must pause to allow judicial processes to unfold. “The right to strike is recognized under the law, but it must be exercised within the limits of legal provisions, especially when a trade dispute has been referred to this court,” the judge stated The substantive suit brought by the FCT Minister is scheduled for hearing between March 23 and 25, 2026, during which the court will determine the legality of the ongoing strike and consider the reliefs sought by the government. Labour leaders had earlier urged workers to continue with the strike, arguing that their grievances had not been addressed despite repeated negotiations. However, the NICN order now legally obliges a temporary suspension of industrial action, pending the court’s judgment. The FCTA and the Ministry have welcomed the court’s ruling, describing it as a step towards dialogue and resolution of the disputes. Meanwhile, union leaders have indicated that they will respect the order but are preparing to pursue the substantive case vigorously.