Wike drags FCTA unions to court over strike

 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dragged the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) before the National Industrial Court over the ongoing indefinite strike embarked upon by workers in Abuja.

The suit followed the commencement of the strike on Monday by workers of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum, a development that paralysed activities across key government offices in the nation’s capital.

The industrial action led to the shutdown of operations at the FCTA Secretariat, prompting the deployment of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force to restrict access to the complex.

While the FCTA management maintained that most of the workers’ demands had been addressed, the unions dismissed the claim, insisting that the contentious issues remained unresolved.

Court documents sighted on Thursday showed that the matter was filed at the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria and assigned suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026. The case is being presided over by Justice E. D. Subilim.

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

In the originating processes, the minister and the FCTA are seeking an order restraining the unions and their agents from picketing, obstructing access to offices, instituting lockouts or engaging in any action capable of disrupting the activities of the FCT administration.

The unions were accused of blocking roads, shutting offices and impeding the smooth running of government activities within the FCT.

At the hearing of the application, counsel to the claimants were present in court, 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.

After reviewing the affidavits and written submissions, Justice Subilim held that the applicants had established sufficient grounds and granted leave for substituted service of court processes on the defendants.

In a ruling delivered on January 21, the court ordered that service be effected through publication in Leadership newspaper or any other national daily, as well as by pasting the processes at the JUAC office located at the FCTA Secretariat, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.

The judge ruled that the mode of service would be deemed valid and proper, and adjourned the matter to January 26, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.

Meanwhile, JUAC has vowed to continue the strike despite the court action.

In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union leadership commended workers for complying with the directive to stay away from work.

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

The union confirmed awareness of the legal action but insisted it would not be intimidated into suspending the strike.

“We will not relent in the struggle nor allow agents of oppression to cow us into submission. JUAC will not succumb to intimidation or harassment,” the statement added.

JUAC further appealed to workers to remain united and continue to comply with the strike directive until further notice.