The National Industrial Court in Abuja is set to deliver a ruling today Tuesday in a legal battle that could determine the fate of the ongoing strike paralysing the Federal Capital Territory Administration, as workers and organised labour intensify calls for the removal of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The suit, filed by the FCT Administration and the minister against leaders of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), seeks to halt the industrial action that has shut down major government offices in Abuja since last week. Justice E.D. Subilim fixed January 27 for ruling after hearing arguments from both sides on Monday.
At the centre of the dispute is the legality of the strike and the status of JUAC. Counsel to the FCTA, James Onoja (SAN), argued that the union lacked legal standing to declare a strike, insisting that JUAC was not registered under the Trade Union Act and therefore had no authority to mobilise workers.
“The people who called the strike are an illegal body. Because JUAC is not registered, they cannot call a strike. That is our position before the court,” Onoja said.
adding that proper procedures for industrial action were allegedly not followed despite ongoing mediation efforts by the government.
The workers’ camp rejected the claims, insisting that the strike was a last resort after months of unresolved grievances, including unpaid salaries, promotion arrears and pension issues. Counsel to the union, Maxwell Opara, urged the court to dismiss the application, warning that compelling workers to resume duties without addressing outstanding entitlements would worsen tensions.
“Directing angry and hungry workers back to work while salaries remain unpaid is dangerous,” Opara argued.
citing a Supreme Court decision and calling for the dispute to be referred to arbitration and mediation rather than coercion.
He also defended the decision to join the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as parties to the case, noting that both bodies had already issued directives supporting a solidarity strike across affiliated unions.
Outside the courtroom, the crisis took a more political tone as hundreds of FCTA and FCDA workers, backed by the NLC, picketed the Industrial Court, openly demanding Wike’s removal. Chanting slogans and waving placards reading “Wike must go!”, “Pay our pension now” and “Respect civil service rules”, protesters accused the FCTA leadership of intimidation, wage abuse and persistent neglect of workers’ welfare.
In a statement backing the strike, the NLC described the action as justified, accusing the FCTA management of violating workers’ rights and failing to meet statutory obligations. Several unions, including teachers, nurses, electricity workers and journalists in the FCT, have joined the shutdown, widening the impact on public services.
With offices across the FCT still largely closed and tempers rising, today’s ruling is expected to shape the next phase of the confrontation between the Wike-led administration and organised labour in the nation’s capital.