The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has barred the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and three others from embarking on any form of industrial action or protest in the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim issued the interim order on Monday while ruling on an ex parte application filed by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
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Those restrained alongside the labour unions are the spokesperson of the NLC, Benson Upah; the General Secretary of the TUC, Nuhu Toro; and the Chairman of the FCT NLC, Stephen Knabayi.
The application, dated February 2, was brought pursuant to a suit marked NICN/ABJ/30/26 and filed by James Onoja (SAN) on behalf of the FCT Minister and the FCTA.
After hearing the claimants, Justice Subilim granted an interim order restraining the 1st to 5th respondents, their agents or privies, from embarking on any strike or protest pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The judge also directed the 5th to 9th defendants, who are security agencies, to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order in the nation’s capital.
According to the claimants, the Chairman of the FCT Council had circulated a mobilisation message to members and affiliated unions for a mass protest scheduled for February 3, an action they said violated existing court orders.
They told the court that following an interlocutory ruling delivered on January 27, 2026, the order was served on the defendants on the same day the NLC and TUC allegedly directed their affiliated unions to intensify and sustain the strike.
The claimants said the directive, jointly signed by both unions, instructed striking workers to resume the strike on the grounds that their counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, had filed an appeal against the interlocutory ruling.
They added that the Joint Unions Action Committee subsequently issued a circular directing all employees to continue the strike, a move they said was aimed at causing a breakdown of law and order in Abuja.
The court adjourned the matter until February 10 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
In an affidavit in support of the application, the claimants stated:
“On the 19th of January, 2026, workers in the employment of the 2nd Claimant, acting under the aegis of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), commenced an industrial action by locking all entrances to offices and the secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, including the closure of schools and all departments and agencies of the 2nd Claimant, thereby bringing governmental functions to a standstill.”
They further stated that being law-abiding, they instituted an action at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/17/2026, between the FCT Minister and another against Rifkatu Iortyer and another, wherein the court on January 27, 2026, granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, JUAC and its affiliate unions from further industrial action and ordered them to resume work pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The claimants alleged that despite being served with the order, “immediately the order of the court was served, the 1st Defendant, acting through the 3rd Defendant, issued a directive titled ‘Reinforcement Directive to All Affiliate Unions in the FCT’, urging workers to resume industrial action.”
They added that on January 28, 2026, the 1st and 2nd defendants jointly issued another directive titled ‘Defend Your Rights With Courage and Dignity: We Are With You’, directing workers to resume the strike and disregard the court order.
According to the claimants, JUAC followed up with a circular dated January 28, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Umar Saleh, instructing members to resume the strike.
They further alleged that, acting on these directives, the 5th Defendant, in his capacity as Chairman of the FCT Council of the NLC, issued a directive on January 31, 2026, mobilising affiliate unions for a mass protest in Abuja on February 3, 2026, by 7:00 am.
The claimants said they feared the planned protest could lead to a breakdown of law and order, obstruction of vehicular movement and violation of the rights of FCT residents, including private sector workers, expatriates and tourists, hence their decision to approach the court.
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