Manny Ita
Administrative activities at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and its affiliate agencies have resumed today, January 29, 2026, following a National Industrial Court ruling that mandated the immediate suspension of a nearly two-week-old strike. The court order, issued on Tuesday by Justice Emmanuel Subilim in the suit filed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, held that while workers possess the right to industrial action, such rights are not absolute once a trade dispute has been formally referred to the court for adjudication. Justice Subilim cited Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Dispute Act, emphasizing that any ongoing strike must cease pending the determination of the substantive suit, which has now been adjourned to March 23, 2026.
In immediate response to the judicial directive, the Acting Head of the Civil Service for the FCT, Mrs. Nancy Sabanti, issued a circular (dated January 27, 2026) instructing all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments to enforce a return to work. The directive included a mandate to “strictly maintain staff attendance registers” to ensure compliance, effectively backing Minister Wike’s earlier warning that the “no work, no pay” policy would be strictly applied to those who defied the order. Observations at the FCTA secretariat this morning showed significant compliance, with gates reopened and staff seen returning to their offices for the first time since the strike began on January 19.
Despite the resumption, the underlying labor tension remains high as the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) has already moved to appeal the injunction. The union filed a motion on Wednesday, January 28, seeking a stay of execution and permission to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, arguing that their welfare demands—including 22 months of rural allowances for health workers and unpaid promotion arrears—remain unaddressed. While JUAC President Rifkatu Iortyer stated that workers would comply with the current court order to return to duty, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other affiliate unions have expressed solidarity with the workers, describing the court’s intervention as “one-sided” and urging members to remain resolute while the legal battle shifts to the appellate level.
