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• Unions insist on peaceful solidarity rally
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The National Industrial Court has restrained the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and three others from embarking on any form of industrial action or protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The three others restrained by Justice Emmanuel Subilim are Benson Upah, General NA Toro and Stephen Knabayi.
Justice Subilim made the preservative order while ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike and the FCT Administration against the labour unions and their leaders.
Specifically, the motion ex parte was drawn from a suit marked: NICN/ABJ/30/26, which was filed by James Onoja on behalf of the Minister and the FCTA.
After listening to the claimants, Justice Subilim granted an interim order restraining the first to fifth respondents and their privies or agents from embarking on strike pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court also ordered the fifth to ninth defendants who are security agencies to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order.
The claimants had told the court that the chairman of the FCT council had sent a message of mobilisation to members and affiliate unions for a mass protest scheduled for today, February 3.
This move, he noted, was in violation of the orders of court.
He noted that after the ruling of the court on January 27, the order of the court was served on the defendants, the same day the NLC and TUC issued a statement to all affiliate unions to intensify and sustain the strike.
The statement jointly signed by both unions directed that the striking workers should resume the strike as the unions’ counsel, Femi Falana, has filed an appeal against the interlocutory ruling.
With this statement, JUAC issued a circular directing all employees to continue the strike.
This position, they said, was aimed at causing a breakdown of law and order in the nation’s capital.
Meanwhile, the court has adjourned until February 10 for hearing of the motion on notice.
The FCT Minister and the FCTA had predicated the application on the fact that “On January 19, 2026, the workers in the employment of the FCTA acting under the aegis of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), commenced an industrial action by locking all the entrance to the offices and the secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, including closure of schools and all departments and
agencies of the FCTA, thereby, bringing the governmental functions and activities of the claimants to a standstill.
“Being law abiding, the claimants herein instituted an action at the National Industrial Court Abuja, in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/17/2026, between the FCT minister & anor V. Rifkatu Iortyer & anor, wherein the court on January 27, 2026, made an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants therein JUAC, its affiliate unions, and all employees of the second claimant from further embarking on any industrial action, and ordered them to resume work pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
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“Immediately the order of the court was served on parties, the first defendant, acting through the third defendant, issued a directive titled: “Reinforcement directive to all affiliate unions in the FCT,” urging the workers in the employment of the second claimant to resume industrial action.
“On January 28, 2026, the first and second defendants jointly issued another directive titled: “Defend your rights with courage and dignity: We are with you,” wherein they directed that workers of the second claimant should resume industrial action and jettison the order of the National industrial Court made on January 27.
However, NLC and the TUC are not backing down as they insist on staging a peaceful solidarity rally today in support of JUAC.
The unions announced this in a joint statement by NLC’s general secretary, Mr Benson Upah and TUC’s secretary general, Mr Nuhu Toro, in Abuja yesterday.
The solidarity is in support of the strike by Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) workers, led by JUAC, over unpaid salaries.
Workers under JUAC commenced an indefinite strike on January 19, shutting down key administrative offices, including the FCTA Secretariat and the FCDA.
The strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued on January 7, demanding that the FCTA management address long-standing labour and welfare grievances.
According to the unions, the rally is to reaffirm labour’s collective resolve that an injury to one worker remains an injury to all within the Nigerian labour movement.
“The action will send a clear message that labour will resist all forms of intimidation and injustice against workers,” they said.
The unions said the struggle was legitimate, non-negotiable and would be sustained until justice was achieved.
They added that their support for JUAC members remained total and unwavering, urging JUAC members to remain steadfast, courageous and united in the defence of their rights.
The NLC and TUC said the planned rally was aimed at demonstrating collective resistance against injustice.
They added that the peaceful action would be directed to the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), insisting that the rally would be lawful and peaceful.
They directed all affiliates and state councils to mobilise members massively for the rally, adding that intimidation and repression would not weaken workers’ resolve.
They reiterated that workers’ rights were never given but won through collective struggle.
The unions assured workers in the FCT that they would not be abandoned.
