ABUJA — The National Industrial Court (NICN) has ordered the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to immediately suspend its ongoing indefinite strike.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Justice Emmanuel Subilim granted an interlocutory injunction sought by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The court held that under the Trade Dispute Act, once a matter has been referred to the Industrial Court, all parties must cease industrial action and maintain the “status quo” pending the final determination of the suit.
The legal victory for the Minister comes after a week of total administrative paralysis in the nation’s capital. The strike, which began on January 19, has crippled public schools, hospitals, and municipal services across the territory. Workers are demanding the immediate payment of 2024 promotion arrears, the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage for area council staff, and the remittance of long-overdue pension deductions.
During the proceedings, counsel for the FCTA argued that the strike was “paralysing the seat of government” and causing irreparable economic damage. Conversely, the unions’ legal representative, Maxwell Opara, argued that forcing “hungry and unpaid” workers back to work without addressing their core welfare demands was a violation of their fundamental rights. Despite these arguments, the court ruled that the judicial process must take precedence over the industrial action.
The court’s intervention is seen as a major relief for residents of Abuja, who have faced mounting heaps of uncollected waste and a total shutdown of public primary and secondary schools. However, the atmosphere at the FCTA Secretariat remains tense, as hundreds of workers had gathered at the court premises earlier in the day to protest what they termed the “high-handedness” of the Minister.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the court has adjourned the substantive case until March 23, 2026. While the judicial order mandates an immediate return to work, JUAC leadership is expected to hold an emergency meeting to formally communicate the court’s directive to its members. The FCTA management has maintained that it remains open to dialogue, provided the workers comply with the court’s order and restore normalcy to the city’s administration.
