SUNTV Global | Abuja | January 30, 2026
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has moved to jail striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over alleged contempt of court, following their decision to continue an industrial action despite a subsisting court order restraining the strike.
SUNTV Global gathered that Wike approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, where he obtained Form 48—a statutory notice warning of imprisonment for disobedience to court orders—against the striking workers.
The notice was procured on behalf of the FCT Minister by Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, of Bar and Bench Chambers, Abuja. It seeks to compel the workers to comply with the January 27, 2026 ruling of the Industrial Court or face possible committal to prison.
Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sublimi of the National Industrial Court had earlier ordered the workers to suspend their strike pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed by Wike. The court held that once an industrial dispute is referred to the Industrial Court, all forms of industrial action must cease.
To reinforce the ruling, Wike’s legal team caused Form 48—titled “Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Order of Court”—to be served on the workers. The document warns that failure to obey the court’s directive amounts to contempt.
It reads in part:
“Take note that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of Honourable Justice E. D. Sublimi of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria delivered on the 27th day of January 2026, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
The notice, dated January 29, 2026, was signed by the Registrar of the Industrial Court, Mr. Olajide Balogun.
Despite the ruling, the workers resumed the strike four days later, arguing that a notice of appeal had been filed at the Court of Appeal against Justice Sublimi’s decision. However, Wike’s legal team dismissed this justification, insisting that an appeal does not automatically suspend a court order.
According to the minister’s lawyers, only an express order staying execution of the Industrial Court’s ruling could justify resumption of the strike.
“Court orders are not made in vain. They are meant to be obeyed so that sanity can prevail in society,” the senior lawyer stated in court filings, urging the workers to act as law-abiding citizens.
Justice Sublimi, in his ruling, cited Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Disputes Act, stressing that public interest and industrial peace outweigh any inconvenience caused by suspending the strike. He also warned that failure to comply with the law could attract sanctions.
The substantive suit has been adjourned to March 25, 2026, for hearing.
The strike, which began on January 19, has crippled activities across Abuja, shutting down FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals. The workers say the action is in protest against what they describe as unmet demands by the Federal Government.
As tensions rise, all eyes are now on the Industrial Court to see whether the standoff between the FCT administration and organised labour will escalate into a full-blown legal showdown.
