Wike drags FCTA Unions to court over strike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to challenge the ongoing strike embarked upon by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, as the dispute heads for a substantive hearing on Monday.

Workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority began an indefinite strike on Monday after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum, paralysing activities across major government offices in Abuja.

The industrial action led to the shutdown of the FCTA Secretariat, forcing the deployment of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force to restrict access to the complex.

While the FCTA management claimed that most of the workers’ demands had been addressed, the Joint Unions Action Committee rejected the claim, insisting that the issues in dispute remained unresolved.

Court documents sighted by Punch on Thursday showed that the suit was filed at the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria and marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026.

The claimants are the FCT Minister and the FCTA, while the defendants are the President of the Joint Unions Action Committee, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the Secretary-General, Abdullahi Saleh, sued in their representative capacities.

The claimants are seeking an order restraining the unions and their agents from picketing, blocking access roads, shutting offices or engaging in any act capable of disrupting the administration of the FCT.

At the hearing, counsel to the claimants were present, while the defendants were absent. The minister and the FCTA were represented by a team of senior lawyers, including Ogwu Onoja (SAN), M. A. Ebute (SAN), George Ibrahim (SAN), K. O. Mustapha and Esther Audu.

In a ruling delivered on January 21, Justice E. D. Subilim granted leave for substituted service of court processes on the defendants.

“Having listened to counsel to applicants and taking a close look at the reliefs, the affidavit, and the written address thereto, I am of the view that the applicant has established a case to warrant the granting of the reliefs sought,” the judge held.

The court ordered that service be effected through publication in a national daily and by pasting the processes at the JUAC office within the FCTA Secretariat, adding that such service would be deemed “good and proper.”

The case was adjourned to January 26, 2026, for motion on notice.

Despite the court action, JUAC vowed to continue the strike. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union leadership commended workers for complying with its directive to stay away from work.

“We sincerely appreciate you for complying with the directive to stay at home. The strike action continues until our demands are met,” the statement read.

Confirming awareness of the court suit, the union added, “The union wishes to bring to the notice of all staff that the Minister of the FCTA has taken us to court.”

JUAC insisted it would not be intimidated into suspending the strike, declaring, “We will not relent in the struggle nor allow agents of oppression to cow us into submission.”

The union appealed to workers to remain united and continue to stay away from work until further directive from JUAC.