Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria seeking an order to commit striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to prison after they allegedly refused to comply with a valid court directive. The move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing standoff between the FCTA leadership and labour unions.
Wike’s application follows a January 27, 2026 ruling by Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sublimi of the National Industrial Court, which directed FCTA workers to suspend their strike pending the hearing and determination of an originating summons filed by the Minister challenging the industrial action. The court held that once a dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, industrial action, including strikes, must be suspended until the matter is resolved.
Despite being served with the court order, the striking workers resumed their industrial action days later. In response, Wike’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, obtained and served Form 48 on the workers — a statutory “Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Order of Court.” The document warns that failure to comply with the court’s directive would amount to contempt of court and could lead to imprisonment under Nigerian law.
Form 48, endorsed by the Registrar of the National Industrial Court, Mr. Olajide Balogun, was issued on January 29, 2026, and expressly states that unless the workers obey the court’s directions, they risk being committed to prison for contempt. It is understood that this notice is a precursor to formal contempt proceedings should compliance not be forthcoming.
The strike, which began on January 19, 2026, has shut down activities across FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals in Abuja, as workers demand what they describe as unmet welfare and administrative concerns by the Federal Government. Union leaders reportedly cited a notice of appeal filed at the Court of Appeal against the Industrial Court’s ruling as justification for resuming the strike. However, Wike’s legal team dismissed that argument, asserting that an appeal does not automatically stay the execution of a court order unless expressly ordered by a judge.
Justice Sublimi’s ruling, which cited Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Disputes Act, emphasised that suspension of a strike during court proceedings is essential to preserve industrial harmony, even if it entails temporary inconvenience to workers. The substantive suit has been adjourned to March 25, 2026, for substantive hearing.
Wike’s legal action to seek imprisonment for striking workers underscores the growing tensions between government authorities and organised labour in Nigeria’s capital, particularly in situations where industrial action persists despite clear judicial intervention. Supporters of the Minister’s position argue that compliance with court orders is fundamental to the rule of law and stability of public institutions, while critics of potential incarceration warn that punitive measures against workers could exacerbate labour unrest if broader grievances remain unaddressed.
The FCTA strike and subsequent legal developments continue to draw national attention, reflecting wider debates over labour rights, judicial authority, and governance in the Federal Capital Territory.
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