Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sibilim of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, has restrained the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and three others from embarking on any form of industrial action or protest within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The three other parties affected by the order are Comrades Benson Upah, General N.A. Toro, and Stephen Knabayi.
Justice Sibilim issued the interim order on Monday after granting an ex-parte application filed by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The application, dated February 2, was filed in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/30/26 by counsel to the claimants, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja (SAN).
After listening to submissions from the claimants, the court restrained the 1st to 5th respondents, their agents or privies, from embarking on any strike action pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court also directed the 5th to 9th defendants, who are security agencies, to ensure the maintenance of law and order within the FCT.
The claimants informed the court that the Chairman of the FCT Council of Labour Unions had issued a mobilisation message calling on members and affiliated unions to stage a mass protest scheduled for February 3, an action they said violated earlier court orders.
According to the claimants, following a ruling delivered on January 27, the court order was served on the defendants the same day. Despite this, the NLC and TUC allegedly issued a joint statement directing all affiliated unions to intensify and sustain the strike, citing an appeal filed by their counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), against the interlocutory ruling. Subsequently, the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) also directed workers to continue the strike.
The claimants argued that these actions were capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the nation’s capital.
The court 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 workers under the Joint Unions Action Committee had, on January 19, 2026, commenced an industrial action by locking offices, schools, and departments of the FCTA, thereby grounding government activities.
They added that although the court had earlier restrained the unions from further industrial action and ordered workers to resume duties, fresh directives were allegedly issued urging workers to ignore the court order and resume the strike, culminating in plans for a mass protest in Abuja.
The claimants expressed fears that the planned protest could lead to chaos, obstruct vehicular movement, and infringe on the rights of residents, businesses, expatriates, and visitors, prompting them to seek the court’s intervention.