Wike takes FCTA unions to court over ongoing strike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dragged the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration before the National Industrial Court over the ongoing strike by FCTA workers, as the dispute heads for hearing on Monday.

Workers of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) began an indefinite strike on Monday after a seven-day ultimatum issued to the authorities expired, effectively shutting down activities in major government offices across Abuja.

The strike led to the closure of the FCTA Secretariat, with operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force deployed to restrict access to the complex. While the FCTA management claimed that most of the workers’ demands had been addressed, JUAC rejected the claim, insisting that key issues remained unresolved.

Court documents sighted on Thursday showed that the minister and the FCTA filed the suit at the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, with suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026. The matter is before Justice E. D. Subilim.

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

In the application, the minister and the FCTA are seeking an order restraining the unions and their agents from picketing, blocking roads, shutting offices or taking any action that could disrupt the activities of the FCT administration or hinder the work of departmental heads and political appointees.

At the initial hearing, lawyers representing the claimants were present, while the defendants were absent. The minister and the FCTA were represented by a team of senior advocates, including Ogwu Onoja, SAN; M.A. Ebute, SAN; George Ibrahim, SAN; alongside K.O. Mustapha and Esther Audu.

After considering the affidavits and written addresses, Justice Subilim ruled that the applicants had shown sufficient grounds for their request 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 by publication in Leadership Newspaper or any other national daily, as well as by pasting the processes at the JUAC office located within the FCTA Secretariat, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. The court held that this method would be deemed valid service and adjourned the case to January 26, 2026, for motion on notice.

Despite the court action, JUAC has vowed to continue the strike. In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union praised workers for complying with the directive to stay away from work.

“We sincerely appreciate you 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 lawsuit but insisted it would not be intimidated into suspending the industrial action. “We will not relent in the struggle nor allow agents of oppression to cow us into submission,” JUAC declared, urging workers to remain united and continue observing the strike until further notice.