The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have thrown their weight behind striking workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The unions accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of intimidation and condemned what they described as a one-sided ruling of the National Industrial Court.
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On Tuesday, the Industrial Court granted an interlocutory injunction restraining JUAC and its members from continuing the strike pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons
The order followed an application filed by Mr Wike, and the FCTA marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, against the JUAC Chairman, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the union’s Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh.
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The court ruled that workers were prohibited from participating in a strike once a dispute had been referred to the National Industrial Court, adding that where such a strike was already ongoing, it must cease pending the determination of the case.
It further stated that failure to comply with Section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act may attract sanctions.
The court adjourned the case to 23 March for substantive hearing.
‘Intimidation of workers’
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, and the Secretary General of the TUC, Nuhu Toro, the unions said the treatment meted out to the workers was unacceptable and warned that the strike would continue until the minister engages in negotiations.
They said they were compelled to speak out in solidarity with FCT workers who had been shabbily treated by the minister, with the backing of the court.
“Today, we find it necessary to issue a joint statement of support in solidarity with the workers of Federal Capital Territory who have been shabbily treated by the Minister of FCT, Mr Wike and rubber-stamped by an Abuja National Industrial Court in a one-sided ruling intended to break up the strike and make workers perpetual slaves,” the statement read.
The labour unions accused the FCT administration of subjecting workers to intimidation, humiliation, insults and harassment, warning that such actions would not be tolerated.
“The offences committed against the FCT workers are serious enough. We cannot watch from the sidelines,” the statement said.
“Workers cannot be made slaves in their country. We stand for the rule of law and its observance to the hilt, no matter the status of the parties to this dispute.”
Background
Workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) had embarked on an indefinite strike on 19 January, shutting down key administrative offices, including the FCTA Secretariat and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued on 7 January, demanding that the FCTA management address long-standing labour and welfare grievances.
NLC accused the FCTA of violating labour laws by failing to remit deductions for pensions and the National Housing Fund (NHF), which it said attract significant penalties under the relevant legislation.
The union further condemned threats by the Minister of the FCT against striking workers shortly after the court ruling, describing the environment as toxic and urging workers and union members to remain alert and engaged.
‘Strike remains lawful’
However, the unions clarified that the interlocutory injunction obtained by the minister was directed at individual union leaders, not the unions themselves, adding that the strike continues.
They said they expected the minister to use the court ruling as an opportunity to open dialogue with the organised labour for an amicable resolution of the issues, but claimed he instead resorted to threats against the workers.
They urged workers to remain resolute despite pressure.
“Accordingly, we not only support the workers in this action, we urge them to maintain high morale in the face of relentless threats,” the unions said, adding: “Defend your rights with courage and dignity and not with fear.”
The unions also issued a strongly worded message to the judiciary, praising what they described as honest judges while warning against judicial misconduct.
“We put on notice cash-and-carry judges who continue to constitute a smudge on the judiciary,” the statement said.
Such judges, they warned, “cannot be insulated from the consequences of the storms they create and they will be held accountable, if not by man, by God.”
They insisted that the industrial action would not be called off until the FCT minister “comes off his high horse and negotiates with the workers.”
“Workers, keep fighting for your rights. It is safer to die on your feet than live on your knees,” the unions declared.
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