By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Nyesom Wike, Minister of Nigeria’s capital city Abuja, has approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) to challenge the ongoing strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), as labour unions insist they will not suspend the action.
Heritage Times HT reports that the suit, filed by the minister and the FCTA against the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), is scheduled for hearing on Monday. Court documents show that the matter is before Justice E. D. Subilim at the Abuja Division of the NICN.
Why The Workers Embarked On Strike
The industrial action began on Monday after FCTA workers and staff of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) allowed a seven-day ultimatum to expire without what they described as a satisfactory response from management.
Although the FCTA management maintains that most of the workers’ demands have been addressed, the unions dispute this claim, arguing that several critical issues remain unresolved. These unresolved grievances, according to JUAC, prompted workers to down tools and stay away from their duty posts.
Offices Shut, Security Tightened
The strike has paralysed activities across several government offices in Abuja, including the FCTA Secretariat, where operations were completely halted. Security operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force were deployed to restrict access to the secretariat complex.
Details Of The Court Action
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, lists Wike and the FCTA as claimants, while JUAC President Rifkatu Iortyer and Secretary-General Abdullahi Saleh are named as defendants in their representative capacities.
The claimants are seeking an order restraining the unions and their agents from picketing, blocking roads, shutting down offices, or engaging in any actions capable of disrupting the operations of the FCT administration, including the activities of departmental heads and political appointees.
At the hearing of the application, counsel to the claimants were present, while the defendants were absent. Wike and the FCTA were represented by a team of senior lawyers led by Ogwu Onoja (SAN), alongside M.A. Ebute (SAN), George Ibrahim (SAN), K.O. Mustapha, and Esther Audu.
After considering the affidavits and written submissions, Justice Subilim ruled that the claimants had established sufficient grounds and granted leave for substituted service of court processes on the defendants.
In a ruling delivered on January 21, the court ordered that service be effected through publication in local newspaper Leadership, or any other national daily, and by pasting the court processes at the JUAC office located within the FCTA Secretariat at Area 11, Garki, Abuja. The court held that this method constituted valid service.
The case was subsequently adjourned to January 26, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
Union Defies Court Move
Despite the legal action, JUAC said the strike would continue. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union thanked workers for complying with the directive to stay away from work.
The union confirmed awareness of the court proceedings but insisted it would not be intimidated into suspending the strike. JUAC urged workers to continue observing the stay-at-home directive until their demands are fully met and further instructions are issued.
