The National Industrial Court (NIC), sitting in Abuja, has ordered workers on the payroll of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to suspend their ongoing strike action.
Delivering a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Emmanuel Subilim held that although the dispute before the court qualified as a trade dispute, the workers’ right to embark on industrial action was not absolute.
Justice Subilim ruled that once a dispute has been formally referred to the National Industrial Court, any ongoing strike must cease pending the determination of the case.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the claimants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimant,” the judge said.
He added that the order would remain in force pending the final determination of the suit before the court.
The ruling comes amid an indefinite strike by FCTA workers over unresolved welfare and administrative issues, which has disrupted activities across the Federal Capital Territory.
