The face-off between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and its striking workers has snowballed into a full-blown legal battle, with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike dragging the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) before the National Industrial Court over the ongoing shutdown of Abuja offices.
The clash followed the launch of an indefinite strike by workers of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority after a seven-day ultimatum expired, bringing activities across major government offices in the nation’s capital to a standstill.
Operations at the FCTA Secretariat were completely shut down, forcing the deployment of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force to barricade the complex and restrict access.
Despite claims by FCTA management that most of the workers’ demands had been met, JUAC flatly rejected the assertion, insisting that the core issues remained unresolved.
Court documents sighted on Thursday showed that the suit was filed at the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria and is listed as NICN/ABJ/17/2026, with Justice E. D. Subilim presiding.
The claimants are the FCT Minister and the FCTA, while the defendants are JUAC President Rifkatu Iortyer and Secretary-General Abdullahi Saleh, sued in their representative capacities.
In the suit, Wike and the FCTA are asking the court to restrain the unions and their agents from picketing, blocking roads, shutting offices, locking out officials or disrupting the running of the FCT administration.
At the initial hearing, lawyers to the claimants were present, while the defendants were absent. The FCTA was represented by a heavyweight legal team, including Ogwu Onoja, SAN; M.A. Ebute, SAN; George Ibrahim, SAN; K.O. Mustapha, Esq.; and Esther Audu, Esq.
After reviewing the affidavits and written submissions, Justice Subilim ruled that the applicants had shown sufficient grounds and granted leave for substituted service on the defendants.
In a ruling delivered on January 21, the court ordered that court processes be served by publication in Leadership Newspaper or any other national daily and by pasting them at the JUAC office inside the FCTA Secretariat at No. 1 Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, declaring the method valid and proper.
Justice Subilim said, “Having listened to counsel to applicants and taking a close look at the reliefs, the affidavit, and the written address thereto, I am of the view that the applicant has established a case to warrant the granting of the reliefs sought.
“Accordingly, an order for leave is hereby granted to serve the originating processes and any or all subsequent process in this suit on the defendants by substituted means by advertising/publishing same in the Leadership Newspaper or any other national newspaper or daily in Nigeria and pasting same on the premises of the Joint Union Action Committee at FCTA Secretariat, No. 1 Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
“An order is hereby granted deeming the said mode of service as good and proper service on the defendants. This case is hereby adjourned to 26/01/2026 for motion on notice.”
But JUAC has vowed to fight on. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union praised workers for staying away from duty.
“We sincerely appreciate you for complying with the directive to stay at home. The strike action continues until our demands are met,” the statement said.
Confirming awareness of the lawsuit, JUAC added, “The union wishes to bring to the notice of all staff that the Minister of the FCTA has taken us to court.”
The union dismissed the legal move as intimidation, declaring, “We will not relent in the struggle nor allow agents of oppression to cow us into submission. JUAC will not succumb to any form of intimidation or harassment by any means.”
Calling for unity, JUAC urged workers to remain resolute, adding, “We appeal for your cooperation. Do well to continue to stay at home until further directive from JUAC.”
