The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) sitting in Abuja has ordered workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to immediately suspend their ongoing strike action.
The order followed an application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, seeking an injunction against the industrial action embarked upon by workers under the Joint Union Action Committee.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, was instituted against the Chairman of the Committee, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh.
In his ruling, Justice E.D. Subilim held that although the dispute met the necessary legal conditions, the right to embark on a strike is not absolute once a matter has been brought before the court. He stressed that any ongoing industrial action must be suspended pending the determination of the case.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the claimants and representatives… from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimant. The order shall remain in force, pending the determination of this suit,” Justice Subilim ruled.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
