The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, has granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, compelling workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to suspend their ongoing strike.
The claimants dragged the Chairman of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, before the court in suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, seeking an order restraining them from embarking on any industrial action, picketing, or lockout.
Delivering his ruling on Tuesday, Justice E.D. Subilim held that although the matter amounted to a trade dispute and had met the required legal conditions, the defendants’ right to embark on industrial action was not absolute.
“The defendant’s right to an industrial action is not absolute, but as circumscribed by law,” he said.
He ruled that workers were prohibited from participating in a strike once a dispute had been referred to the National Industrial Court. Where a strike was already ongoing, it must cease pending the determination of the case.
Justice Subilim said the claimants had established a compelling case that warranted the granting of the order.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and respondents, their agents, representatives… together with all other members of the Joint Unions Action Committee … from further embarking on any industrial action, strike, picketing, lockout, or any other form of obstruction against the claimant, parastatals, and political appointees,” he said.
He added that the order includes actions aimed at crippling operations, blocking roads, obstructing vehicular movement, or frustrating business activities. The injunction will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons filed in the suit.
The court adjourned the matter until March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
Counsel for the claimants, James Onoja, SAN, welcomed the ruling, saying it would allow both parties to engage in discussions. He urged the unions to obey the court order and return to work, while allowing room for mediation.
Counsel for the respondents, Maxwell Opara, described the workers as law-abiding citizens and said they would advise the unions to respect the court order. He added that the court had mandated mediation in line with the law.
JUAC President, Rifkatu Iortyer, said the workers would comply with the order, call off the strike, and return to work, while continuing to “push for other things.”
“We are law-abiding citizens, and because they have said we should return to work, we are returning to work, pending our next appearance,” she said.
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