By Ben Adoga, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to return to work immediately or face legal sanctions, following an order of the National Industrial Court directing an end to the industrial action.
Wike issued the warning on Tuesday during a briefing for journalists in his office, shortly after the court granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) from continuing the strike that has paralysed government services in Abuja for more than a week.
The Minister insisted that the rule of law must prevail, accusing political actors and some senior civil servants of hijacking the strike for purposes unrelated to workers’ welfare.
“Are there no consequences for disobeying the law? Must we allow people to break the law flagrantly?” Wike asked. “I have given them a window, but from tomorrow, if they don’t come to work, we will apply the big stick.”
He further warned that any attempt to block government premises would attract severe consequences.
“From tomorrow, if we see anybody who wants to block the gate, they will be made a scapegoat. The law must take its place,” he said.
Earlier, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice E. D. Subilim, granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the FCT Minister and the FCT Administration against the leadership of JUAC.
The claimants had dragged the JUAC Chairman, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, before the court in suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, seeking an order restraining them and their agents from embarking on any industrial action, picketing or lockout.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that although the matter amounted to a trade dispute, the right to embark on a strike was not absolute once the dispute had been referred to the court.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimant. The order shall remain in force, pending the determination of this suit,” the judge ruled.
The court adjourned the matter until March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
*JUAC urges members to remain law-abiding
Reacting to the ruling, JUAC President Rifkatu Iortyer called for calm among workers and pledged obedience to the court order.
“Whatever is the ruling today, for us or against us, we are a law-abiding people and organisation,” she said.
Following the ruling, workers marched peacefully to the Labour House to brief the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the court’s decision and the following line of action.
*HoS directs immediate resumption
In compliance with the court order, the FCT Head of Service, Mrs Nancy Sabanti, issued a circular directing all FCTA staff to resume duties immediately.
The circular read in part, “Following the Court Order by the Honourable Justice E. D. Subilim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria today, Tuesday, January 27, 2026, that the ongoing strike action by staff of the FCT Administration, as declared by the Joint Union Action Committee, should be suspended forthwith.
“Accordingly, all staff are to resume duties immediately at their various duty posts.”
She further directed all permanent secretaries and heads of departments and agencies to enforce the use of staff attendance registers, ensuring that management remained committed to workers’ welfare.
•Wike: Strike hijacked by politicians
Wike alleged that the industrial action had been hijacked by politicians and some top civil servants, despite ongoing efforts by the FCTA to resolve the dispute through dialogue.
“The Administration was already in the process of mediation when some politicians hijacked the strike,” he said.
He described several of the demands presented by workers as “frivolous” and either unreasonable or already addressed by the government.
“We have been disposed to dialogue. They have met with management, so what exactly are the issues?” he asked.
Wike maintained that workers’ representatives had been engaging with management throughout the dispute, noting that direct access to him was not a prerequisite for negotiation.
“Seeing me in person is not a right,” the Minister said.
*N12bn approved
The Minister disclosed that more than N12bn had just been approved for the payment of January salaries to FCTA workers, which he said demonstrated the administration’s commitment to staff welfare.
“Meanwhile, I just signed January salaries amounting to over N12 billion,” Wike stated.
He also cited improved revenue performance in the territory, revealing that the FCT had generated over N30 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR), compared to previous years when collections barely reached N9 billion.
According to him, the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission and ongoing reforms were part of efforts to reposition the public service and improve efficiency.
“Workers are largely responsible for the lack of development in states, including the FCT,” he added.
The strike, which began on Monday, January 26, was called by the NLC to protest unpaid promotion arrears, poor working conditions and what workers described as hostile labour relations.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough” and “Wike Must Go”, workers picketed government offices and disrupted administrative activities across the capital.
The FCTA approached the court, arguing that the strike violated established labour procedures, particularly the failure to exhaust dispute-resolution mechanisms before embarking on a total shutdown.
According to the administration, the action posed a serious threat to public order and the delivery of essential services in Abuja.
*Wike debunks ‘chased out’ claim
Meanwhile, Wike dismissed reports circulating on social media that he was chased out of his office by protesting workers.
Describing the claims as false and politically motivated, he said he left his office for an official assignment at the Presidential Villa.
“That I was chased out of the office, I don’t know where they are getting that from. I was in the office, I finished my work and left for the airport to see the president off to Türkiye,” he said.
He explained that the gate used was not a back gate but the official ministerial exit.
“No amount of blackmail and insult will touch me,” Wike added.
Enforcement Phase Begins
Concluding his briefing, Wike warned that any worker who failed to comply with the court order and resume duties from Wednesday would face legal action.
“Disobeying a valid court order has consequences,” he said, signalling what he described as the beginning of a more challenging enforcement phase to restore complete public services in the Federal Capital Territory.
