Wike Seeks Jail for FCTA Workers Defying Court Order

Abuja – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has moved to have striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) committed to prison for allegedly defying a court order.

The dispute stems from the workers’ continuation of industrial action despite a National Industrial Court injunction issued on January 27, 2026, which ordered the strike suspended pending the determination of a suit filed by the FCT Minister.

To enforce compliance, Wike’s legal team obtained Form 48, a court-issued notice outlining the consequences of disobeying a judicial order. The document, formally titled “Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Order of Court,” warns that any worker failing to comply with the injunction may be held in contempt and liable for imprisonment.

The notice, dated January 29 and signed by the Registrar of the Industrial Court, Mr. Olajide Balogun, was served by Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), acting on behalf of Wike. 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 27th day of January 2026, you will be guilty of the contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sublimi had earlier directed the workers to suspend their strike, following Wike’s application seeking a court order to compel their return to work. The suit named the President and Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, as respondents.

The court emphasized that strikes must halt once a dispute is referred to the Industrial Court, citing Section 18(1)E of the Trade Dispute Act. Justice Sublimi noted that suspension of industrial action ensures disputes are resolved within legal frameworks, and failure to comply could attract sanctions.

Despite the ruling, the workers resumed their strike four days later, citing a notice of appeal filed at the Court of Appeal. Wike’s legal team rejected this justification, stating that without an explicit court order staying the Industrial Court ruling, resumption of the strike remains unlawful.

The FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority workers began their industrial action on January 19, shutting down activities across Abuja over grievances they described as “unmet demands” by the federal government. The strike affected all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals.

The National Industrial Court has scheduled the substantive hearing of the case for March 25, 2026.