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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed solidarity with striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), describing the National Industrial Court order directing them to suspend the strike as surprising and distasteful.
In a statement, the NLC’s Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, urged the workers to remain resolute, stressing that the ruling cannot weaken the determination of workers who already feel aggrieved. He criticised the court for failing to address key allegations raised by the workers, including claims of non-remittance of National Housing Fund and pension deductions.
The congress also placed organisations and individuals violating the Pension Fund Act and the National Housing Fund Act on notice, warning that such breaches would prompt serious engagement with the NLC. It further called on workers and all NLC organs to remain on high alert in light of the latest developments.
On Tuesday, Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court ordered FCTA workers to suspend their ongoing industrial action pending the hearing and determination of an originating summons. The order followed an application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, seeking to compel the striking workers to return to work.
In the suit, the minister named the President and Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) as respondents. Justice Subilim ruled that once parties refer a dispute to the National Industrial Court, all industrial actions, including strikes, must be suspended.
Citing Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Disputes Act, the judge explained that the filing of an originating summons constitutes a referral of the dispute and requires an immediate halt to strike action. He warned that failure to comply could attract sanctions and emphasised that the public interest in maintaining industrial peace outweighs any inconvenience caused by suspending the strike.
The court adjourned the case to 25 March 2026 for hearing.
Following the ruling, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, warned that any FCTA worker who fails to resume duty from Wednesday, 28 January, would face disciplinary action. He said his administration had engaged with the unions and considered all their grievances, adding that security agencies and FCT management had attempted dialogue without success and insisting that the dispute went beyond the unions’ stated demands.
