FCT STAFF RESUME WORK FOLLOWING NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT INJUNCTION

Abuja, January 28, 2026

Secretariats of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have reopened for official engagements following an interlocutory injunction granted by the National Industrial Court, compelling workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to suspend their ongoing strike.

Onoze Yakubu reports that the National Industrial Court issued an order restraining JUAC and its leadership from continuing the industrial action, pending the determination of a substantive suit filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA.
In its ruling, the Court emphasized that the right to embark on industrial action is not absolute and must cease once a dispute has been referred to a court of competent jurisdiction.

Following the ruling, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike urged staff of the Administration to immediately resume work, warning that failure to comply with the court order would attract legal consequences. He stated that while his administration remains open to genuine and constructive negotiations with the leadership of the unions, it would not succumb to intimidation or actions capable of disrupting public service delivery.
Despite the court order, some FCTA premises remained largely deserted on the first day of the injunction, as activities were yet to fully pick up across various secretariats and departments.

Security personnel were deployed to strategic locations within the FCTA premises to maintain order and prevent any breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, the President of the Joint Union Action Committee, JUAC, Rifkatu Lorter, said that as a party to the suit, the union would abide by the court’s decision, describing the outcome as a “win-win situation” for both the workers and the government.