NIC Orders Suspension Of FCTA Strike
Court Halts FCTA Workers’ Strike Pending Substantive Hearing
THE National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has ordered workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to immediately suspend their ongoing industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit before the court.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim gave the order on Monday while ruling on an application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, seeking to compel the striking workers to return to work.
The suit was instituted against the President and Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), the umbrella body coordinating the industrial action by FCTA workers.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that once a trade dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, all forms of industrial action, including strikes, must be suspended in line with the provisions of the law.
The judge cited Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Disputes Act, which mandates the suspension of strikes upon the referral of a dispute to the court through an originating summons. According to him, the provision is intended to ensure orderly resolution of labour disputes through legal processes rather than prolonged industrial actions.
Justice Subilim warned that failure to comply with the statutory requirement could attract sanctions against the defaulting parties. He stressed that the interest of the public in maintaining industrial harmony and uninterrupted service delivery outweighed any inconvenience that might arise from suspending the strike.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to 25 March 2026, for hearing of the substantive case.
The FCTA workers had commenced the indefinite strike on 19 January 2026, following what they described as the Federal Government’s failure to address longstanding welfare concerns.
The industrial action led to the shutdown of activities across FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils and parastatals within Abuja, significantly disrupting public services in the nation’s capital.
