Breaking: Court stops NLC, TUC, others from embarking on planned protest

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA– The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, issued an order of interim injunction barring the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on any form of industrial action or protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The court, in the ruling that was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Sibilim, equally restrained three others- Comrades Benson Upah, General NA Toro, and Stephen Knabayi- who were listed as respondents in the matter.

The order followed an ex parte application that was jointly filed by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration.

The motion marked: NICN/ABJ/30/26, was moved on behalf of the applicants by their team of lawyers led by Mr. James Onoja, SAN.

Specifically, the court restrained the 1st to 5th respondents, their privies or agents, from embarking on strike pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

It further directed the 5th to 9th defendants, who are security agencies, to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in the FCT.

The Claimants told the court that the Chairman of the FCT Council had sent a message of mobilisation to members and affiliated unions for a mass protest scheduled for February 3.

They insisted that the action amounted to a violation of a subsisting order of the court.

The FCT Minister noted that the extant order of the court was made on January 27, following which he said the NLC and TUC issued a statement to all affiliated unions to intensify and sustain the strike, citing an appeal they lodged to challenge the restraining injunction.

He insisted that the aim of such directive was to cause a breakdown of law and order in the nation’s capital.

Meanwhile, the court has adjourned the substantive case till February 10 for hearing.

In an affidavit that was filed in support of the motion, the FCT Minister and the FCTA averred that: “On the 19th of January, 2026, the 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 entrance to offices and the secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, including closure of schools and all departments and agencies of the 2nd Claimant. Thereby, bringing the governmental functions and activities of the Claimants to a standstill.

“Being law abiding, the claimants herein instituted an action at the National Industrial Court Abuja, in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/17/2026, between the FCT Minister & anor V. Rifkatu Iortyer & anor, wherein the court on the 27th of January, 2026 made an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants therein JUAC, its affiliate unions, and all employees of the 2nd Claimant were restrained from further embarking on any industrial action, and ordered to resume work pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“Immediately the order of the court was served on parties, the 1st Defendant acting through the 3rd Defendant issued a directive titled: “REINFORCEMENT DIRECTIVE TO ALL AFFILIATE UNIONS IN THE FCT” urging the workers in the employment of the 2nd Claimant to resume industrial action.

“On the 28th of January, 2026, the 1st and 2nd Defendants jointly issued another directive titled: “DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS WITH COURAGE AND DIGNITY: WE ARE WITH YOU” wherein they directed that workers of the 2nd Claimant should resume industrial action and jettison the order of the National industrial Court made on the 27/1/2026.

“The Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), the umbrella body under which the employees of the 2nd Claimant and affiliate unions operate to embark on a strike leading to the action in Sult No. NICN/ABJ/17/2026, followed the directive in Exhibit 3 Issued by the 1st and 2nd Defendants and to direct its members in the employment of the 2nd Claimant to resume strike by the Directive dated 28th January, 2026 signed by Comrade Abdullahi Umar Saleh as secretary JUAC.

“Acting under the directives aforementioned, the 5th Defendant, acting, as the chairperson of the 1st Defendant; FCT Council, issued a directive on the 31/1/2026, to all affiliate unions named therein to mobilize their members who are employees of the 2nd Claimant for a mass protest in the Federal Capital Territory, for which the 1st Claimant is the presiding Minister on the 3rd of February, 2026 by 7.00 am prompt with a view to causing chaos, breakdown of law and order, and prevent the smooth
administration of the 2nd Claimant.

“The Claimants are apprehensive of the breakdown of law and order obstruction of vehicular movement, violation of the rights of the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, particularly those in the private sector and other government establishments, which includes other States of the Federation, expatriates and tourists, hence the resort to court action,” the court process further read.

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