The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has escalated the ongoing confrontation with the territory’s workforce by filing a lawsuit at the National Industrial Court (NICN). The legal move aims to break an indefinite strike that has brought administrative activities at the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to a grinding halt.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, was filed by the Minister and the FCTA against the leadership of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC). It seeks to restrain the unions from continued picketing, blocking access to government buildings, and disrupting the official duties of political appointees and department heads.
In a significant procedural development, Honourable Justice E. D. Subilim of the National Industrial Court has granted the Minister’s application for substituted service. Due to the absence of the union leaders during initial court proceedings, the judge authorised that all legal documents be served via:
- Newspaper Publication: An advertisement in a national daily (specifically Leadership newspaper).
- Public Posting: The conspicuous display of court processes at the JUAC office within the FCTA Secretariat in Garki, Area 11.
Justice Subilim ruled that this mode of service is “good and proper,” clearing the path for a high-stakes hearing scheduled for Monday, 26 January 2026.
The industrial action, which commenced on the 19th of January 2026, followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum. While the Minister’s legal team, led by Dr Ogwu J. Onoja (SAN), argues that the strike is illegal and obstructive, the unions maintain they have been pushed to a breaking point.
The Core Grievances of JUAC:
- Unpaid Arrears: Failure to settle 2023 and 2024 promotion arrears.
- Non-Remittance of Deductions: Allegations that National Housing Fund (NHF) and pension contributions have been withheld since May 2025.
- Administrative Impunity: Concerns over the 2024 promotion examinations and the “illegal” tenure elongation of retired directors.
| FCTA Claim (Minister’s Side) | JUAC Counter-Claim (Union’s Side) |
| 10 out of 14 demands have been met. | No formal agreement has been reached. |
| Wage award payments have commenced. | Payments are unverified and incomplete. |
| Strike is “ill-motivated” and unnecessary. | Strike is a last resort following failed dialogue. |
Despite the looming court date, JUAC remains resolute. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union praised workers for their total compliance and urged them to remain at home.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also stepped in, directing its affiliates to converge at the National Industrial Court on Monday to show solidarity. This mass mobilisation suggests that the dispute is no longer a localized workplace disagreement but has evolved into a broader referendum on labour relations within the nation’s capital.
With the FCTA Secretariat currently under heavy security watch by the Nigeria Police Force and the NSCDC, the outcome of Monday’s hearing will determine whether the FCT returns to work or sinks deeper into administrative paralysis.
