JUST-IN: Court orders FCTA Workers to suspend ongoing strike

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja, has ordered workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to suspend their ongoing strike action.

Delivering his ruling on Tuesday, the presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Subilim, held that while the dispute before the court qualifies as a trade dispute, the workers’ right to embark on industrial action is not absolute.

The judge ruled that once a dispute has been formally referred to the National Industrial Court, any ongoing strike must be suspended pending the final determination of the matter.

Justice Subilim noted that allowing the strike to continue while the case is before the court would undermine judicial authority and due process.

The ruling followed a suit filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA against the leadership of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), challenging the legality of the industrial action.

The court subsequently directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante and adjourned the matter for further hearing.