…they approached the court to obtain an interim order restraining the unions and their leaders
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has issued an interim order restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and three other individuals from engaging in any form of industrial action or protest within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The order was granted by Justice Emmanuel Subilim on Monday, following an ex parte application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The application was brought under a suit marked NICN/ABJ/30/26 and was filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, James Onoja (SAN), representing the FCT Minister and the FCTA.
Those restrained by the court include NLC spokesperson Benson Upah, TUC General Secretary Nuhu Toro, and the Chairman of the FCT NLC, Stephen Knabayi. The interim order prohibits the respondents, their agents, or associates from initiating any strike or protest pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Justice Subilim further directed the 5th to 9th defendants, identified as security agencies, to take all necessary measures to prevent any breakdown of law and order in the nation’s capital.
According to the claimants, the Chairman of the FCT Council had circulated a mobilization message urging members and affiliated unions to participate in a mass protest scheduled for February 3, 2026. The FCT Minister and the FCTA argued that this directive contravened a previous court order. They noted that following an interlocutory ruling delivered on January 27, 2026, the order was officially served on the defendants on the same day, yet the NLC and TUC allegedly instructed their affiliates to intensify and sustain the ongoing strike.
The claimants emphasized that the directive, jointly signed by the NLC and TUC, called on striking workers to continue the industrial action, asserting that their counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, had filed an appeal against the interlocutory ruling. Subsequently, the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) issued a circular directing all employees to maintain the strike. The FCT Minister and FCTA submitted that these actions were aimed at disrupting public order in Abuja.
The court has adjourned the matter until February 10, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
In an affidavit supporting the application, the claimants detailed that on January 19, 2026, workers under the umbrella of JUAC began an industrial action that involved locking entrances to offices and the FCTA secretariat, as well as closing schools and other government departments. This action, according to the claimants, effectively paralyzed government operations in the FCT.
Being committed to lawful resolution, the FCT Minister and FCTA filed a suit at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, under Suit No: NICN/ABJ/17/2026. On January 27, 2026, the court granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, JUAC, and its affiliate unions from further industrial action and ordered them to resume work while the substantive suit was pending.
Despite being served with the court order, the claimants alleged that 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. On January 28, 2026, the 1st and 2nd defendants jointly issued another directive entitled “Defend Your Rights With Courage and Dignity: We Are With You,” instructing workers to continue the strike in defiance of the court order.
JUAC subsequently followed up with a circular dated January 28, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Umar Saleh, directing members to resume the strike. Acting on these directives, the 5th defendant, as Chairman of the FCT Council of the NLC, issued a mobilization message on January 31, 2026, calling for a mass protest in Abuja scheduled for 7:00 am on February 3, 2026.
The claimants stated that they feared the planned protest could result in a breakdown of law and order, obstruction of vehicular movement, and violations of the rights of FCT residents, including private-sector workers, expatriates, and tourists. Consequently, they approached the court to obtain an interim order restraining the unions and their leaders from proceeding with the industrial action or demonstration.
