The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has initiated a legal case against the Joint Unions Action Committee of the Federal Capital Territory Administration following the ongoing indefinite strike embarked upon by FCTA workers. The matter is scheduled to be heard on Monday at the National Industrial Court in Abuja.
As a result of the industrial action, operations at the FCTA Secretariat were completely halted. Security operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, alongside officers of the Nigeria Police Force, were deployed to the secretariat to prevent access to the premises and maintain order.
Although the management of the FCTA maintained that the majority of the workers’ grievances had already been addressed, the Joint Unions Action Committee dismissed the claim. The union leadership insisted that the critical demands presented to the authorities remained unresolved, thereby justifying the continuation of the strike.
Court documents obtained on Thursday revealed that the lawsuit was filed at the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria. The case, marked with suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, is being handled by Justice E. D. Subilim.
In the suit, the claimants are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the FCTA, while the defendants are the President of the Joint Unions Action Committee, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the Secretary-General, Abdullahi Saleh, both sued in their representative capacities.
The court filings indicate that the minister and the FCTA are seeking an order to restrain the unions and their representatives from carrying out activities such as picketing, obstruction, lockouts, or any other actions targeted at the claimants, departmental leadership, and political appointees.
The unions were accused of obstructing roads, sealing offices, and interfering with the effective administration of the Federal Capital Territory.
After examining the affidavits and written arguments presented before the court, Justice Subilim ruled that the applicants had shown sufficient justification for the reliefs sought. The court consequently granted permission for substituted service of court documents on the defendants.
In a ruling delivered on January 21, the court authorised that the court processes be served through publication in Leadership Newspaper or any other national daily newspaper. The judge also ordered that the documents be pasted at the office of the Joint Unions Action Committee located within the FCTA Secretariat at No. 1 Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
The court further declared that the adopted method of service would be regarded as valid and legally binding.
Justice Subilim stated that after listening to submissions from the applicants’ counsel and reviewing the reliefs requested alongside the supporting affidavits and written addresses, the court was satisfied that a case had been established. He therefore granted leave for the originating and subsequent court processes to be served through substituted means and adjourned the matter to January 26, 2026, for a motion on notice.
Despite the legal proceedings, the Joint Unions Action Committee has affirmed that the strike will continue.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by the union’s Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the leadership praised workers for adhering to the directive to remain away from their duty posts.
The statement expressed appreciation to members for their compliance and reaffirmed that the industrial action would persist until all demands were addressed.
The union also acknowledged awareness of the court case, informing workers that the Minister of the FCTA had instituted legal proceedings against the union leadership.
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