The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken the Joint Unions Action Committee of the Federal Capital Territory Administration to court over the ongoing strike by FCTA workers, as the dispute heads for a hearing on Monday.
Workers of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority commenced an indefinite strike on Monday after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum, grounding activities across major government offices in Abuja.
The industrial action shut down operations at the FCTA Secretariat, prompting the deployment of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force to restrict access to the complex.
Despite claims by the FCTA management that most of the workers’ demands had been met, JUAC rejected the assertion and insisted that the issues at stake remained unresolved.
The lawsuit, sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, was filed at the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria. It bears suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026 and 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.
Court documents indicated that the minister and the FCTA are seeking an order restraining the unions and their agents from engaging in picketing, obstruction, lockouts, or any action directed at the claimants, departmental heads, and political appointees. The unions were accused of blocking roads, shutting offices, and disrupting the smooth running of the FCT administration.
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, Esq.; and Esther Audu, Esq.
After reviewing the affidavits and written submissions, Justice Subilim held that the applicants had established sufficient grounds for the reliefs sought 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, No. 1 Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. The court ruled that this mode of service would be deemed valid and proper.
Justice Subilim said, “Having listened to counsel to applicants and taking a close look at the reliefs, the affidavit, and the written address thereto, I am of the view that the applicant has established a case to warrant the granting of the reliefs sought.
“Accordingly, an order for leave is hereby granted to serve the originating processes and any or all subsequent process in this suit on the defendants by substituted means by advertising/publishing same in the Leadership Newspaper or any other national newspaper or daily in Nigeria and pasting same on the premises of the Joint Union Action Committee at FCTA Secretariat, No. 1 Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
“An order is hereby granted deeming the said mode of service as good and proper service on the defendants. This case is hereby adjourned to 26/01/2026 for motion on notice.”
Meanwhile, JUAC has vowed to continue the strike action despite the legal challenge. In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union leadership commended workers for complying with its 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.
JUAC confirmed it was aware of the court action, stating, “The union wishes to bring to the notice of all staff that the Minister of the FCTA has taken us to court.”
The union insisted it would not be intimidated into suspending the strike, declaring, “We will not relent in the struggle nor allow agents of oppression to cow us into submission. JUAC will not succumb to any form of intimidation or harassment by any means.”
Appealing for unity among workers, the statement urged continued compliance with the strike directive, adding, “We appeal for your cooperation. Do well to continue to stay at home until further directive from JUAC.”
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