The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, has issued an interim injunction restraining organised labour unions from embarking on any form of protest or industrial action within the Federal Capital Territory.
The ruling follows heightened tension over an ongoing dispute between labour unions and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), a disagreement that has threatened to disrupt public services in the nation’s capital.
Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sibilim granted the order on Monday after considering an ex-parte application brought before the court by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside the FCTA.
The decision effectively halts the planned FCT labour protest, which was scheduled to hold on February 3 and had already gained momentum among affiliate unions and public sector workers.
Also named in the restraining order are three labour leaders: Comrades Benson Upah, General N. A. Toro, and Stephen Knabayi.
The court directed that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), their agents, and all affiliates must refrain from any form of strike, demonstration, or mass action within the territory until the matter is fully heard and determined.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/30/26, was filed against the backdrop of an earlier court order issued on January 27.
In that ruling, the court had granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), its affiliate unions, and employees of the FCTA from continuing industrial action.
The court further ordered all affected workers to return to their duty posts pending the resolution of the substantive suit.
According to the claimants, the January 27 order was served on all relevant parties the same day it was made.
However, despite this directive, labour leaders allegedly continued mobilisation efforts, escalating tensions and renewing calls for the FCT labour protest.
Court documents revealed that the Chairman of the FCT Council of Labour Unions circulated messages urging workers to participate in the planned action.
The FCT Minister and the FCTA argued that such mobilisation amounted to a direct violation of subsisting court orders and posed a serious risk to public order.
The situation reportedly worsened after the NLC and TUC issued a joint statement directing their affiliate unions to sustain the strike.
Labour leaders justified their position by pointing to an appeal filed against the interlocutory injunction.
JUAC subsequently instructed workers to continue the industrial action, a move the claimants described as provocative and destabilising.
In granting the interim injunction, Justice Sibilim noted the need to preserve law and order while the court considers the substantive issues raised in the suit.
He also ordered security agencies to take all necessary measures to maintain peace across the Federal Capital Territory, particularly in areas considered vulnerable to disruption.
The claimants warned that allowing the FCT labour protest to proceed could have far-reaching consequences.
They argued that mass demonstrations in the capital could obstruct vehicular movement, restrict access to critical infrastructure, and interfere with the daily activities of residents.
Public and private establishments, including schools, hospitals, and government offices, were identified as potential casualties of the unrest.
Beyond immediate disruptions, the FCTA expressed concern that continued industrial action could undermine governance in Abuja.
As the seat of federal power, the capital hosts key institutions whose smooth operation is essential to national stability.
Any prolonged shutdown, the claimants argued, could damage public confidence and create security vulnerabilities.
Labour unions, on the other hand, maintain that their actions are driven by unresolved grievances affecting workers’ welfare and conditions of service.
While these concerns were not fully ventilated during the ex-parte hearing, the court acknowledged that all parties would have an opportunity to present their arguments during the hearing of the motion on notice.
Observers say the court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s balancing act between protecting workers’ rights and safeguarding public order.
The restraining order does not permanently ban industrial action but temporarily pauses the FCT labour protest until legal questions surrounding jurisdiction, compliance with earlier orders, and the legality of the planned demonstration are resolved.
The matter has been adjourned to February 10, when the court will hear the motion on notice.
At that stage, labour unions are expected to formally respond to the claims brought by the FCT Minister and the FCTA.
As Abuja residents await the next court session, attention remains fixed on whether dialogue or litigation will ultimately resolve the dispute.
For now, the court’s intervention has placed the FCT labour protest on hold, reinforcing the authority of judicial orders amid rising socio-economic tensions in the nation’s capital.
Ireport247news
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