The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja, has ordered workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to immediately call off their ongoing strike and return to their duty posts.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Subilim on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
Justice Subilim held that the continued industrial action, while a constitutional right, cannot proceed where the dispute is already before a court for adjudication.
The judge referenced Section 18(1)(b) of the Trade Dispute Act, stating that workers cannot embark on a strike over matters already referred to the Industrial Court.
The FCTA workers, under the umbrella of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), began the indefinite industrial action in January 2026.
The strike has centred on unresolved welfare concerns, including allegations of unpaid salaries stretching back five months, long-standing promotion arrears and poor working conditions across the territory.
The dispute escalated into the courts after the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, filed a suit at the National Industrial Court seeking an order to restrain the workers from continuing the strike and compel them to resume duties. The suit is marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026.
Justice Subilim emphasised that the right to strike is not absolute when an industrial dispute has been brought before a judicial forum. He noted that permitting the continuation of the industrial action under such circumstances amounted to a resort to self-help.
The case lists the President and Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress, Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Saleh, respectively, as defendants.
The court’s order requires the striking workers to immediately end the industrial action and report for duty.
Workers had previously protested at the NICN premises in Abuja, calling for resolution of their welfare demands.
Their demonstrations included placards with inscriptions such as “Pay promotion arrears” and “No working tools”, reflecting frustration over what they described as slow responses from the FCTA leadership.
Justice Subilim said that allowing workers to strike on a matter already before the court “amounts to a resort to self-help”, indicating that such action cannot be tolerated when judicial processes are underway.
The court ruling could have significant implications for labour relations and industrial actions in Nigeria’s federal capital.
The decision reaffirms the judiciary’s position on the limits of strike actions once disputes are subject to legal adjudication. It may also set a precedent for how similar disputes are treated in the future.
The National Industrial Court’s directive to FCTA workers to end their strike and return to duty marks a key development in the ongoing labour dispute.
Observers say the ruling emphasises the role of the judiciary in managing industrial relations and could influence future negotiations between the FCTA and its workforce.
