Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court has directed employees of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to halt their ongoing strike pending the hearing and resolution of the originating summons before the court.
The order followed an application by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who sought a directive compelling the striking workers to resume duties.
In the suit, the minister listed the President and Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) as respondents.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Subilim stated that any form of industrial action, including strikes, must be suspended once a dispute has been formally referred to the National Industrial Court.
Referring to Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Dispute Act, the court explained that such suspension allows for proper adjudication of the dispute. It added that the filing of a suit through an originating summons constitutes a formal referral, requiring all ongoing strike actions to cease.
The judge warned that non-compliance with Section 18 of the Act could lead to sanctions, stressing that the need to preserve industrial harmony in the public interest outweighs any inconvenience resulting from the suspension of the strike.
The matter was adjourned until March 25, 2026, for hearing.