Wike Drags Striking FCTA Workers to Industrial Court

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has instituted legal action against the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the indefinite strike that has paralyzed government activities in the nation’s capital.

The legal battle, filed at the National Industrial Court in Abuja under suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, is set for a hearing on Monday, January 26.

Workers of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum.

The industrial action has led to the shutdown of the FCTA Secretariat, with security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and the Civil Defence Corps deployed to restrict access to the complex.

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While the FCTA management claims to have met most of the workers’ demands, the union leadership, led by President Rifkatu Iortyer, insists that critical issues remain unresolved.

In the suit, the FCT Minister and the FCTA (Claimants) are seeking an order restraining the union and its agents from engaging in picketing, lockouts, or any actions that disrupt the administration’s operations.

The defendants named in the suit are the JUAC President, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary-General, Abdullahi Saleh.

At a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Justice E. D. Subilim granted the claimants leave to serve court processes on the absent defendants via substituted means.

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This includes publishing the notice in a national daily and pasting it at the JUAC office in the FCTA Secretariat.

“I am of the view that the applicant has established a case to warrant the granting of the reliefs sought,” Justice Subilim ruled, adjourning the substantive hearing to next week.

Despite the court action, JUAC has vowed to continue the strike. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union declared it would not be intimidated.

“We will not relent in the struggle nor allow agents of oppression to cow us into submission. The strike action continues until our demands are met,” the statement read, urging workers to remain at home until further directives.