The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has applied to the National Industrial Court for an order to commit striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to prison over alleged defiance of a court directive.
The strike resumed despite an order issued on January 27 by Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sublimi, which suspended the industrial action pending the determination of a suit filed by the FCT Minister.
To enforce compliance, Wike obtained Form 48 — a legal notice detailing consequences for disobeying court orders. Signed by the Registrar of the Industrial Court, Mr Olajide Balogun, the notice warns the striking workers they could face imprisonment for contempt of court.
Wike’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dr Ogwu James Onoja, insisted that resuming the strike based on a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal does not override the Industrial Court’s order unless a stay is explicitly granted. “Court orders are not made in vain. They are made to be obeyed for sanity to prevail in society,” the team stated.
Justice Sublimi had cited Section 18(1)E of the Trade Dispute Act, noting that ongoing strikes must be suspended once a dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court. The judge emphasized that public interest in maintaining industrial peace outweighs the inconvenience caused by halting the strike.
The FCTA workers and the Federal Capital Development Authority began their strike on January 19, shutting down activities across Abuja, citing “unmet demands” by the Federal Government. The substantive matter is now slated for hearing on March 25, 2026.
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