The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Nigeria Labour Congress(NC), the Trade Union Congress(TUC) and three others from embarking on any form of industrial action or protest in the Federal Capital Territory.
The interim injunction was given on Monday by Justice Emmanuel Subilim in response to an ex parte application submitted by the Federal Capital Territory Administration and Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Those restrained with the labour unions are the spokesperson of the NLC, Benson Upah; the General Secretary of the TUC, Nuhu Toro; and the Chairman of the FCT NLC, Stephen Knabayi.
On behalf of the FCT Minister and the FCTA, James Onoja (SAN) submitted the February 2 application in accordance with a suit designated NICN/ABJ/30/26.
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Following the claimants’ hearing, Justice Subilim issued an interim order prohibiting the first through fifth respondents, as well as their agents or privies, from going on strike or protesting until the motion on notice was heard and decided.
Additionally, the judge ordered the security agencies that make up the fifth through ninth defendants to make sure that law and order is maintained in the nation’s capital.
The plaintiffs claimed that the FCT Council Chairman had breached court orders by sending out a mobilisation notice to members and affiliated unions for a large-scale demonstration on February 3.
They informed the court that the order was served to the defendants on the same day that the NLC and TUC reportedly instructed their affiliated unions to escalate and prolong the strike, in response to an interlocutory verdict rendered on January 27, 2026.
The claimants said that because their attorney, Femi Falana, SAN, had filed an appeal against the interlocutory verdict, the order, which was jointly signed by both unions, instructed striking workers to restart the strike.
They claimed that the Joint Unions Action Committee subsequently issued a circular urging all employees to prolong the strike, a move they alleged was geared at provoking a breakdown of law and order in Abuja.
The court adjourned the matter until February 10 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
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In an affidavit in support of the application, the claimants stated:
“On the 19th of January, 2026, 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 entrances to offices and the secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, including the closure of schools and all departments and agencies of the 2nd Claimant, thereby bringing governmental functions to a standstill.”
They added that, in accordance with the law, they filed a lawsuit at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/17/2026, between the FCT Minister and another against Rifkatu Iortyer and another. On January 27, 2026, the court issued an interlocutory injunction prohibiting the defendants, JUAC and its affiliate unions, from engaging in any further industrial action and directing them to return to work until the substantive suit was resolved.
The claimants alleged that despite being served with the order, “immediately the order of the court was served, the 1st Defendant, acting through the 3rd Defendant, issued a directive titled ‘Reinforcement Directive to All Affiliate Unions in the FCT’, urging workers to resume industrial action.”
They further claimed that the 5th Defendant, acting in his capacity as Chairman of the NLC’s FCT Council, issued an order on January 31, 2026, directing affiliate unions to organise a large-scale demonstration in Abuja on February 3, 2026, by 7:00 am.
The claimants said they feared the planned protest could lead to a breakdown of law and order, obstruction of vehicular movement and violation of the rights of FCT residents, including private sector workers, expatriates and tourists, hence their decision to approach the court.
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