Manny Ita
Activities at the National Industrial Court in Abuja were disrupted on Monday, January 26, 2026, as Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers, supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), staged a picketing exercise to demand the removal of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The protest occurred as the court convened to hear a suit filed by the FCTA seeking to restrain the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) from continuing an indefinite strike that has paralyzed administrative functions in the capital since last week. The workers are protesting several unresolved grievances, including five months of unpaid wage awards, the non-remittance of statutory pension contributions since May 2025, and the non-payment of long-standing promotion arrears.
The demonstration saw a significant turnout of union members who blocked the entrance to the court premises, brandishing placards calling for the Minister’s resignation and the immediate settlement of all outstanding labor liabilities. NLC President Joe Ajaero, who arrived at the scene to demonstrate solidarity, characterized the industrial action as a legitimate defense against administrative negligence. Ajaero described the strike as a “necessary and heroic response to a vicious cocktail of neo-liberal attacks and systematic violation of the fundamental rights of workers.” He further alleged that the withholding of workers’ statutory deductions constituted an act of economic sabotage, prompting the NLC to direct all affiliate unions within the FCT to mobilize in support of the FCTA staff.
Inside the courtroom, legal representatives for the FCT Minister, led by Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, argued that the strike was unlawful and detrimental to the public interest, urging the court to issue an interim injunction to restore essential services. In response, the defense counsel for the unions, Maxwell Okpara, moved to join the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as necessary parties to the suit, arguing that the issues at stake involve broader labor leadership. Presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Subilim, after hearing arguments from both sides, adjourned the matter until Tuesday, January 27, 2026, for a ruling on whether to suspend the industrial action.
