Court Finally Stops NLC, TUC, Others From Planned Protest Against Wike

Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sibilim of the National Industrial Court (NIC), Abuja, has issued an order restraining the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and three others from embarking on any form of protest or industrial action within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The other parties restrained by the court are Comrades Benson Upah, General NA Toro, and Stephen Knabayi.
The order was granted on Monday following an ex parte application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration (FCTA) against the labour unions and their officials. The application was dated February 2.
The motion, filed in a suit marked NICN/ABJ/30/26, was brought by Dr. Ogwu James Onoja (SAN) on behalf of the Minister and the FCTA.
After hearing the submissions of the Claimants, Justice Sibilim granted an interim order restraining the 1st to 5th respondents, as well as their agents and privies, from embarking on any strike action pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court further directed the 5th to 9th defendants, who are security agencies, to ensure that law and order are maintained in the FCT.
According to the Claimants, the Chairman of the FCT Council of the labour unions had circulated a mobilisation message to members and affiliated unions, calling for a mass protest scheduled for February 3.
They argued that the planned protest was in clear violation of an earlier court order.
The Claimants told the court that following its ruling on January 27, the order was duly served on the defendants on the same day. However, the NLC and TUC allegedly issued a statement to all affiliated unions directing them to intensify and sustain the strike action.
The statement, jointly signed by the leadership of both unions, reportedly instructed striking workers to continue the action on the grounds that the unions’ counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), had filed an appeal against the interlocutory ruling.
Subsequently, the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) issued a circular directing all employees to continue the strike.
The Claimants maintained that these actions were deliberately aimed at causing a breakdown of law and order in the nation’s capital.
Meanwhile, the court has adjourned the matter to February 10 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
In their application, the FCT Minister and the FCTA stated that on January 19, 2026, workers employed by the 2nd Claimant, acting under the umbrella of JUAC, commenced an industrial action by barricading entrances to offices and the secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration. This action, they said, also led to the closure of schools and the shutdown of departments and agencies of the FCTA, effectively bringing government activities to a standstill.
They further explained that, in response, the Claimants approached the National Industrial Court in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/17/2026 between the FCT Minister & Anor v. Rifkatu Iortyer & Anor. On January 27, 2026, the court granted an interlocutory injunction restraining JUAC, its affiliate unions, and all employees of the FCTA from continuing the industrial action and ordered them to resume work pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The Claimants alleged that immediately after the court order was served, the 1st Defendant, acting through the 3rd Defendant, issued a directive titled “Reinforcement Directive to All Affiliate Unions in the FCT”, urging workers to resume the strike.
They added that on January 28, 2026, the 1st and 2nd Defendants jointly released another directive titled “Defend Your Rights with Courage and Dignity: We Are With You”, which directed workers to disregard the court order and continue the industrial action.
According to the Claimants, JUAC complied with the directives by issuing a circular dated January 28, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Umar Saleh, directing members employed by the FCTA to resume the strike.
They further alleged that, acting on these directives, the 5th Defendant, in her capacity as Chairperson of the NLC FCT Council, issued another directive on January 31, 2026, mobilising affiliate unions to organise a mass protest in the FCT on February 3, 2026, by 7:00 a.m.
The Claimants said they feared that the planned protest could lead to chaos, disrupt vehicular movement, violate the rights of FCT residents, including those in the private sector, other government establishments, expatriates, and tourists, and ultimately result in a breakdown of law and order—hence their decision to seek urgent judicial intervention.