Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The ongoing labour dispute between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and its workforce escalated sharply this week as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike moved to legally restrain striking workers, filing a case at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) aimed at stopping an indefinite strike that has paralysed government offices across the nation’s capital.
Workers under the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) began an indefinite industrial action on Monday, calling off work after a seven‑day ultimatum over unresolved demands expired. The strike, driven by grievances including unpaid promotion arrears and other entitlements, resulted in the shutdown of key administrative activities at the FCTA Secretariat and other government facilities in Abuja.
In response, Mr. Wike, acting alongside the Federal Capital Territory Administration, filed a suit before the National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, under suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, seeking an interlocutory injunction against the unions and their agents to halt the industrial action and prevent further disruption of public service delivery.
Court filings indicate that the FCT Minister and FCTA are asking the court to restrain the unions from activities such as picketing, blocking office access, shutting down government operations or any other action that could impede the smooth functioning of the FCTA. Counsel for the claimants argued that the ongoing strike not only violated labour laws but also threatened the effective administration of the capital city.
At a hearing earlier this week, presided over by Justice E.D. Subilim, lawyers representing the FCT Minister and FCTA presented affidavits and written submissions supporting their request for judicial intervention. The defence team, however, was notably absent, leading the court to grant leave for substituted service of court processes. The judge ordered that the originating summons and related documents be served by publication in a national newspaper and by posting notices at the JUAC office located at the FCTA Secretariat in Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
The matter has been adjourned to Monday, January 26, 2026, for further proceedings, including a motion on notice.
Despite the legal action, the striking workers have maintained their position. JUAC leaders have publicly stated that they will continue the strike until their outstanding demands are fully addressed, rejecting claims by the FCTA that most issues have already been resolved. In statements issued by union representatives, the workers urged colleagues to remain steadfast in the industrial action, arguing that court processes should not intimidate them into abandoning their legitimate labour grievances.
The strike has prompted considerable disruption within the Federal Capital Territory. Offices across Abuja have remained largely non‑operational, and security personnel, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, have been deployed to enforce restricted access to the FCTA Secretariat complex.
Labour analysts note that the situation places Nigeria’s capital in a rare clash between executive authority and organised labour, with legal intervention now at the forefront of resolution efforts. The FCTA’s legal challenge underscores tensions between government leadership and public servants over working conditions, welfare entitlements and the interpretation of industrial relations law under the Trade Disputes Act.
As the case proceeds, both parties face pressure to engage in negotiations that could avert further judicial escalation. Workers argue that prolonged strike action, even in the face of court orders, reflects deep‑seated frustration with how their concerns have been handled, while the FCTA insists that its legal move is necessary to protect administrative functions and public interest in the capital city.
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