The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)
workers risk being held in contempt of court after resuming their strike
despite a January 27, 2026, National Industrial Court order suspending
industrial action pending the determination of a suit filed against them by the
FCT Minister.
The FCT Minister has obtained a Form 48—Notice of
Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order—to be served on the striking
workers. The document, secured through his counsel and Senior Advocate of
Nigeria (SAN) Ogwu Onoja, warns that failure to comply could lead to
imprisonment and further contempt charges.
The notice, dated January 29 and signed by Industrial
Court Registrar Olajide Balogun, reads:
"Take note that unless you obey the directions contained in the order
of Honourable Justice E. D. Sublimi of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria
delivered 27th day of January 2026, you will be guilty of contempt of court and
liable to be committed to prison."
Justice Emmanuel Sublimi had earlier ordered the FCTA
workers to suspend their industrial action, citing Section 18(1)(e) of the
Trade Dispute Act. The judge noted that once a dispute is referred to the
National Industrial Court through an originating summons, strikes must halt to
ensure proper resolution.
The suit filed by the FCT Minister lists the President
and Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), Rifkatu Iortyer and
Abdullahi Umar Saleh, as respondents. Justice Sublimi emphasised that
maintaining industrial peace and protecting public interest outweighs the
inconvenience caused by suspending the strike.
Although the workers argue that their resumption is
justified by a notice of appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Wike’s legal team
rejected the claim, stating that without an express court order staying the
execution of the Industrial Court ruling, the strike is unlawful.
Ogwu Onoja’s team stressed in court papers that “Court
orders are not made in vain. They are made to be obeyed for sanity to prevail
in the society.”
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