Court Move Escalates Dispute Between FCTA and Striking Abuja Workers
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has initiated legal action as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike moves to have striking FCTA workers held in contempt of court for allegedly defying an order directing them to suspend their ongoing industrial action.
The National Industrial Court had on January 27, 2026, ordered the workers to halt their strike pending the determination of a suit filed by the FCT Administration. However, members of the Joint Unions Action Committee, representing the affected workers, continued the strike, prompting Wike’s legal team to serve union leaders with a Form 48 notice, warning of consequences for disobeying a valid court order.
FCTA authorities argue that continued industrial action disrupts essential services and administrative operations across Abuja, stressing that compliance with court directives is mandatory while legal proceedings continue.
On their part, union leaders insist the strike remains necessary to press home workers’ demands, noting that they have initiated steps to challenge the court ruling. They maintain that the welfare concerns prompting the strike have yet to be adequately addressed.
Legal observers note that contempt proceedings could lead to sanctions, including possible imprisonment, if the court determines that its order was deliberately ignored. The matter is expected to return to court for further hearings in the coming weeks as both sides pursue legal and negotiation options.
Source: https://bit.ly/3MeL7Ll
