The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dragged the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC)—representing all trade unions and categories of employees within the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)—to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, over ongoing strike action and alleged acts of picketing, obstruction, and disruption of government operations.
The suit, filed under NICN/ABJ/17/2026 before Honourable Justice E. D. Subilim, lists the Minister and the FCTA as claimants, while Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh represent JUAC as defendants. The court filings seek orders restraining the unions and their agents from picketing, locking out staff, or disrupting offices and government activities. The claimants argued that the unions’ actions, if unchecked, could lead to a complete breakdown of administrative and economic activities in the nation’s capital.
At the January 21 hearing, the defendants were absent. After reviewing submissions and supporting documents, Justice Subilim granted leave for the claimants to serve court processes on the defendants via substituted means—advertising in a national newspaper like Leadership and posting the documents at the JUAC office at the FCTA Secretariat, No. 1 Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. The court adjourned the matter to January 26, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
In response, JUAC reaffirmed that the strike will continue until their demands are met. The union praised workers for complying with the stay-at-home directive and vowed not to yield to legal threats or intimidation. Their statement urged members to maintain solidarity and continue the industrial action until further notice
