Wike seeks court order to jail defiant FCTA workers over continued strike 

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has approached the National Industrial Court, seeking an order to have striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) committed to prison for allegedly flouting a subsisting court directive.

The move followed the workers’ decision to resume their industrial action despite a court order issued on January 27 directing them to suspend the strike pending the determination of a suit filed against them by the FCT Minister.

As part of efforts to enforce compliance with the Industrial Court’s ruling, Wike has caused Form 48—a statutory court document outlining the consequences of disobeying a court order—to be issued and served on the striking workers.

The Form 48 was procured by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Ogwu James Onoja of Bar and Bench Chambers, Abuja, who is acting on behalf of the FCT Minister.

The document serves as a warning that continued defiance of the court’s directive could result in imprisonment, in line with the law.

Titled “Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Order of Court,” the document signals the commencement of contempt proceedings against the workers.

Part of the notice states that failure to comply with the order of Honourable Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sublimi of the National Industrial Court, delivered on January 27, 2026, would amount to contempt of court and could lead to committal to prison.

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The notice, dated January 29, was endorsed by the Registrar of the National Industrial Court, Mr Olajide Balogun.

It would be recalled that Justice Sublimi had ordered members of the FCTA workforce to immediately suspend their strike action pending the hearing and final determination of an originating summons filed by the FCT Minister.

The directive followed an application brought before the court by Wike through his counsel, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, seeking an order mandating the workers to return to their duties.

In the suit, the Minister named the President and Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, respectively, as respondents.

In his ruling, Justice Sublimi held that once a labour dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court, all forms of industrial action, including strikes, must be suspended.

Relying on Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Disputes Act, the court explained that the law requires the cessation of strikes upon the filing of an originating summons, which constitutes a formal referral of the dispute to the court.

The judge further warned that non-compliance with the provisions of the Act could attract punitive measures, stressing that the need to preserve industrial harmony outweighs any inconvenience arising from halting the strike.

Despite the service of the court order, the workers reportedly resumed their strike four days later.

Although the workers justified their action based on a notice of appeal filed at the Court of Appeal against the ruling, Wike’s legal team dismissed the argument.

According to counsel to the Minister, the filing of an appeal does not automatically suspend the execution of a court order, except where a specific stay of execution has been granted. The workers were therefore urged to comply with the directive and avoid being penalised for contempt.

The legal team maintained that court orders must be respected, noting that obedience to judicial decisions is essential for the maintenance of order and stability in society.

Following the issuance of the restraining order, Justice Sublimi adjourned the substantive matter to March 25, 2026, for hearing.

The FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) workers commenced the industrial action on January 19, effectively grounding operations across Abuja over what they described as the Federal Government’s failure to address their outstanding demands.

The strike led to the shutdown of activities across FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals within the Federal Capital Territory.