THE National Industrial Court has ordered workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to suspend their ongoing strike pending the hearing and determination of an originating summons before the court.
The directive was issued by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following an application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who sought an order compelling the striking workers to resume duties.
In the suit, the FCT Minister listed the President and Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) as respondents.
Justice Subilim ruled that once an industrial dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, all forms of industrial action, including strikes, must cease.
Relying on Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Disputes Act, the court held that the filing of an originating summons amounts to a formal referral of the dispute, thereby requiring an immediate suspension of the strike to allow for proper adjudication.
The judge warned that failure to comply with the provisions of the Act could attract sanctions, stressing that the need to preserve industrial harmony and protect public interest outweighs any inconvenience arising from the suspension of the strike.
The matter has been adjourned to March 25, 2026, for hearing.
FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) workers had commenced the industrial action on January 19, shutting down operations across Abuja over what they described as unmet demands by the Federal Government.
The strike disrupted activities across all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals.