The National Industrial Court has ordered striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to immediately suspend their ongoing industrial action and return to work.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim issued the order on Monday, January 27, while ruling on an application filed by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike. The minister had approached the court seeking an order compelling the workers to call off the strike pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The FCT Minister sued the President and the Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) over the industrial action embarked upon by FCTA workers.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that once a trade dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court, any form of industrial action, including a strike, must be suspended. He acknowledged that workers have a constitutional right to embark on strike actions but emphasized that such a right is not absolute.
The judge referenced Section 18(1)(b) of the Trade Dispute Act, stressing that workers are barred from embarking on or continuing a strike over matters already before the Industrial Court for adjudication. According to him, where a strike has already commenced before the referral of the dispute to court, such action must cease immediately.
Consequently, the court ordered the striking FCTA workers to suspend the industrial action forthwith and report back to their duty posts.
The matter was adjourned to March 25 for hearing of the substantive suit
