Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) on Thursday resumed their indefinite strike over unresolved welfare issues, following a Court of Appeal order staying the execution of the National Industrial Court’s injunction against the strike.
The development came after JUAC leaders, through their counsel led by Femi Falana, SAN, successfully obtained an order from the Court of Appeal staying the execution of the National Industrial Court’s January 27, 2026 ruling that had directed workers to suspend their strike.
In a ruling delivered on January 28, 2026, the Court of Appeal in Abuja granted a stay of execution of the National Industrial Court’s interlocutory injunction pending the determination of the appeal filed by Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, President and Secretary of JUAC respectively.
The Court of Appeal also granted the appellants leave to appeal against the interlocutory ruling of the National Industrial Court on grounds other than fundamental rights.
The case, with Suit No: NICN/ABJ/17/2026, was filed against the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Capital Territory Administration as respondents.
The National Industrial Court, in its ruling delivered on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, by Hon. Justice E.D. Subilim, had granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants (JUAC leaders) and all members of the Joint Unions Action Committee comprising all Trade Unions involving employees of the FCT Administration from embarking on any industrial action.
The injunction specifically restrained them from “further embarking on any industrial action, strike, picketing, lock-out, or any other form of disruption against the Claimant/Applicants and their heads of Departments, Parastatals, and Political Appointees.”
The order included actions aimed at “crippling operation, blocking roads, obstructing the flow of vehicular movement, shutting down operations of the Claimants/Applicants, or by any means frustrating the businesses/activities of the 2nd Claimants/Applicants.”
The case was adjourned to March 25, 2026, for Motion on Notice.
In their Notice of Appeal filed on January 28, 2026, the appellants raised four main grounds challenging the National Industrial Court’s decision:
Ground One – Error in Law: The appellants argued that the learned trial judge erred in law when he granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining them from industrial action without proper jurisdiction.
They contended that:
Ground Two – Jurisdictional Error: The appellants argued that the learned trial judge erred in law when he assumed jurisdiction to hear and determine the motion for interlocutory injunction when the substantive suit was filed in contravention of the provisions of Section 13 of the Trade Dispute Act and Section 14 of the subsidiary legislation (National Industrial Court Rules).
They argued that:
Ground Three: The ruling is against the weight of law.
Ground Four: General error in the overall decision.
Only a few workers were seen around the FCTA Secretariats, Departments and Agencies on Thursday, compared to the massive turnout on Wednesday, in compliance with the JUAC directive to stay at home.
The strike, which originally began on January 19, 2026, was briefly suspended following the National Industrial Court’s ruling on January 27, but resumed after the Court of Appeal granted the stay of execution.
Following the National Industrial Court’s initial ruling on January 27, Mrs Nancy Nathan, acting Head of the Civil Service of the FCTA, had directed all FCT workers to resume work on Wednesday.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had equally warned that there would be consequences for any worker who refused to resume, while assuring workers that the FCTA was open to reasonable negotiation and that the majority of their demands had been addressed.
