The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asked the National Industrial Court to commit striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to prison for allegedly disobeying a court order directing them to suspend their industrial action.
The application followed the workers’ decision to resume their strike despite an order issued on January 27 by the court, restraining them from continuing the action pending the determination of a suit instituted by the minister.
In furtherance of the move, Wike obtained Form 48 — a statutory “Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order” — warning the workers that failure to comply could result in contempt proceedings and imprisonment. The document is a precursor to formal contempt charges.
The Form 48 was obtained by Wike’s counsel, Dr Ogwu James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and was signed on January 29 by the Registrar of the National Industrial Court, Olajide Balogun.
The notice warned that unless the workers obey the order of Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sublimi delivered on January 27, they would be liable to be committed to prison for contempt of court.
Justice Sublimi had ordered the FCTA workers to suspend their strike after granting an application filed by Wike, which sought to compel the workers to return to work. The judge held that industrial action must be suspended once a trade dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court.
Citing Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Disputes Act, the court ruled that the filing of an originating summons amounts to a referral of the dispute, requiring an immediate halt to any ongoing strike. The judge warned that failure to comply with the provision could attract sanctions, stressing that public interest and industrial peace outweigh any inconvenience caused by suspending the strike.
Despite the order being served, the workers reportedly resumed the strike, citing a notice of appeal filed at the Court of Appeal against the ruling. However, Wike’s legal team rejected the justification, arguing that an appeal does not automatically stay execution of a court order.
Onoja maintained that only an express order staying execution could justify a resumption of the strike, adding that court orders are meant to be obeyed to preserve societal order.
The substantive suit has been adjourned to March 25, 2026, for hearing. The FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority workers began the strike on January 19 over what they described as unmet demands by the Federal Government, shutting down activities across ministries, departments, agencies, area councils and parastatals in Abuja.
