Court Decides Today as FCT Workers Demand Wike’s Removal

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, will on Tuesday rule on a suit filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration against leaders of the Joint Union Action Committee over the ongoing strike by FCT workers.
Justice E.D. Subilim fixed January 27 for ruling after listening to arguments from counsel representing both parties.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, was filed by the FCT minister and the FCTA against the Chairman of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh. The claimants are seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from embarking on any industrial action, picketing or lockout.
The strike, which commenced last Monday after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued by the workers, has disrupted activities across major FCTA offices in Abuja. Operations were grounded at the FCTA Secretariat, where security operatives were deployed to restrict access to the premises.
While the FCTA management maintained that most of the workers’ demands had been addressed, the union rejected the claim, insisting that key issues remained unresolved.
During Monday’s proceedings, counsel to the workers’ union, Maxwell Opara, urged the court to dismiss the motion, arguing that granting the reliefs sought would amount to determining the substantive matter at an interlocutory stage.
Opara relied on the Supreme Court decision in Opara Agwu & Anor v. Julius Berger Plc, contending that compelling workers to resume duty while salaries and entitlements were unpaid would be unsafe. He also urged the court to consider arbitration and compel the FCT minister to appear for mediation.
Justice Subilim thereafter adjourned the matter till January 27 for ruling.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, counsel to the claimants, James Onoja (SAN), argued that the defendants lacked juristic personality, insisting that JUAC was neither registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act nor recognised under the Trade Union Act.
“The people who called the strike are an illegal body. JUAC is not registered under the Trade Union Act, and because of that, they cannot call a strike. So, this strike is illegal. That is our contention before the court,” Onoja said.
He added that the government was willing to engage the workers, noting that mediation processes were ongoing before the strike action was declared.
“There are laid-down processes to be followed before embarking on a strike, and those processes were not followed,” he stated.
Reacting, Opara said the union had written no fewer than 11 letters to the minister outlining its grievances and calling for mediation, arguing that the matter ought to have been referred for alternative dispute resolution rather than litigation.
“This time he is wasting in court trying to intimidate workers. Is it not enough to talk to workers? If you call off the strike and expect angry, hungry workers to return to work, that is even more dangerous,” Opara said.
On the decision to seek the joinder of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in the suit, Opara explained that only the JUAC chairman and secretary were sued in their personal capacities and not as officers of the union.
The court’s ruling today is expected to determine the immediate future of the strike and the next steps in the dispute between the FCT administration and its workforce.