The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja, has granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, directing workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to suspend their ongoing strike.
The claimants had dragged the Chairman of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, before the court in suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, seeking an order restraining the defendants and their agents from embarking on any form of industrial action, picketing or lockout.
They also asked the court to compel the union leaders to maintain industrial peace pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Delivering his ruling on Tuesday, Justice E. D. Subilim held that although the matter before the court amounted to a trade dispute and had met the required legal conditions, the right of workers to embark on industrial action was not absolute.
The judge noted that such rights must be exercised within the confines of the law, particularly when issues before the court are yet to be fully determined.
Justice Subilim consequently granted the interlocutory injunction, ordering the defendants and their members to immediately suspend the strike and refrain from further industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.
The court also urged both parties to explore peaceful dialogue in the interest of industrial harmony and effective service delivery within the FCT.
The ruling is expected to pave the way for the restoration of normal activities across FCT public offices, which had been disrupted by the strike action.
