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 indefinite strike by FCTA workers, with the matter slated for hearing on Monday.
Workers of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority began the strike on Monday following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum, shutting down activities across major government offices in Abuja. The action led to the closure of the FCTA Secretariat, with operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force deployed to restrict access to the complex.
While the FCTA management claimed that most of the workers’ demands had been addressed, the JUAC rejected the assertion, insisting that key issues remained unresolved.
Court documents sighted on Thursday showed that the suit was filed at the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria and assigned suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026. The case 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.
The minister and the FCTA are seeking an order restraining the unions and their agents from picketing, obstruction, lockouts or any actions targeted 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, counsel for the claimants were present, while the defendants were absent. The claimants were represented by a team of senior lawyers, including Ogwu Onoja (SAN), M. A. Ebute (SAN), George Ibrahim (SAN), K. O. Mustapha and Esther Audu.
After considering the affidavits and written submissions, Justice Subilim ruled that sufficient grounds had been established 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 at the FCTA Secretariat, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. The court ruled that this mode of service would be deemed valid and proper and adjourned the case to January 26, 2026, for a motion on notice.
Meanwhile, the JUAC has vowed to continue the strike despite the court action. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union leadership commended workers for complying with the directive to stay away from work.
The union confirmed awareness of the lawsuit and insisted it would not be intimidated into suspending the strike, urging members to continue to stay at home until further directives are issued.
