Court stops JUAC strike pending dispute resolution
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, has granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, ordering workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to suspend their ongoing strike.
The claimants had dragged JUAC Chairman Rifkatu Iortyer and Secretary Abdullahi Umar Saleh before the court in suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, seeking an order restraining the defendants and their agents from engaging in any industrial action, picketing, or lockout.
Court rules strike must cease
Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice E.D. Subilim held that while the matter qualified as a trade dispute and met legal conditions, the defendants’ right to industrial action was not absolute.
He emphasised that once a dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, workers are prohibited from participating in a strike, and any ongoing strike must cease pending the resolution of the case.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the claimants and representatives… from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimant,” Justice Subilim said.
“The order shall remain in force, pending the determination of this suit.”
