The National Industrial Court (NICN) in Abuja has issued an Order of Interlocutory Injunction prohibiting leaders of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers’ union, their agents, and members from embarking on strikes, picketing, lockouts, road blockades, or any action aimed at shutting down the administration’s activities.
   
The ruling comes after workers, under the aegis of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC),  embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of promotion arrears and other entitlements on Monday.
   
In a judgment yesterday, Justice E. D. Subilim granted an application filed by the Minister of the FCT and the FCTA, restraining the union officials from proceeding with the industrial action.
   
The defendants, Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, identified as President and Secretary of JUAC, were not present in court. The FCTA’s legal team, led by Dr Ogwu J. Onoja (SAN), argued that the proposed strike was illegal and would paralyse the administration’s operations.  Justice Subilim held that the applicants had established a case warranting judicial intervention.
 
The court consequently issued the injunction, restraining the union and its members from any action that would cripple FCTA activities. Due to the defendants’ absence, the court also approved substituted service of the legal documents.

It ordered that the Originating Summons, which challenges the strike’s legality, be published in a national newspaper and posted at the committee’s office at the FCTA Secretariat on Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
   
The case has been adjourned to January 26 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice.
 When contacted, one of the union leaders, who preferred anonymity, said: “Since the administration wants us to continue our agitation in court, we will go to court to defend our actions.”
   
Meanwhile, JUAC has vowed to continue the strike action despite the legal challenge. In a statement issued yesterday and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union leadership commended workers for complying with its directive to stay away from work.