From Victor Osula, Abuja
Workers in Abuja under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) have vowed to remain at home despite a court order directing the suspension of their industrial action, insisting that their demands must be met before they return to work.
The position followed an interlocutory injunction issued on Tuesday by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, restraining JUAC and its leadership from continuing the strike. The order was granted in favour of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration in a suit marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026 against JUAC Chairman, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh.
Justice E.D. Subilim ruled that although the dispute qualified as a trade dispute, the right of workers to embark on industrial action was not absolute, adding that once a matter is before the National Industrial Court, any strike must cease pending the determination of the suit.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimants. The order shall remain in force pending the determination of this suit”, the judge said.
Reacting, JUAC leaders said they would comply with the ruling by no longer continuing the strike, but stressed that workers would stay at home until government addresses the issues that triggered the action, including alleged non-payment of promotion arrears and other outstanding entitlements.
“We are law-abiding and respect the court. However, our members will remain at home until our demands are met”, a union leader said.
The strike, which began last week, escalated on Monday, after the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, joined the action and ordered a total shutdown of all public primary and secondary schools in Abuja, worsening the disruption of public services.
The court adjourned the matter until March 23, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit, while discussions are said to be ongoing between labour and the FCT Administration.
