The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken authorized motion towards hanging employees in Abuja.
The transfer comes as labour unions vow to maintain the continuing shutdown throughout the FCT.
Courtroom papers sighted by Politics Nigeria present that Wike, alongside the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), filed a go well with on the Nationwide Industrial Courtroom in Abuja.
The case targets the Joint Unions Motion Committee, which represents employees throughout departments within the FCTA.
The go well with, marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, was assigned to Justice E. D. Subilim, because the minister accused the unions of paralysing authorities operations within the nation’s capital.
Within the submitting, the federal government alleged that employees engaged in picketing, blocked places of work, and restricted motion.
It claimed these actions disrupted public companies and each day administration in Abuja.
Wike and the FCTA requested the court docket to cease the unions and their officers from additional industrial actions.
They warned that continued disruption may injury {economic} and administrative actions within the FCT.
The defendants within the go well with are Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh.
They had been named as representatives of the Joint Unions Motion Committee.
On the preliminary court docket session, legal professionals representing the minister had been current.
The unions didn’t seem in court docket.
After reviewing the appliance, Justice Subilim dominated that the declare deserved consideration.
The court docket accredited substituted service on the defendants.
In a ruling delivered on January 21, 2026, the choose ordered that court docket papers be served by way of newspaper publication and bodily posting.
The notices are to be pasted on the JUAC workplace throughout the FCTA Secretariat in Garki, Abuja.
The court docket dominated that this technique would rely as legitimate service.
The case was then adjourned to January 26, 2026, for additional listening to.
Regardless of the authorized motion, the unions rejected any suggestion of backing down.
JUAC launched a press release to employees insisting the strike stays lively.
The assertion praised employees for obeying the stay-at-home directive.
It mentioned the motion would proceed till all calls for are addressed.
“We sincerely admire you for complying with the directive to remain at dwelling. The strike motion continues till our calls for are met.”
The union additionally confirmed consciousness of the court docket case filed by the minister.
It described the transfer as an try and intimidate employees.
“The union needs to convey to the discover of all workers that the Minister of the FCTA has taken us to court docket.”
JUAC mentioned it will not give up below strain.
It urged employees to stay united and keep away from responsibility.
“We won’t relent within the battle in addition to enable brokers of oppression to cow us into submission. JUAC won’t succumb to any type of intimidation or harassment by any means.”
Employees had been once more requested to await additional directions.
“We attraction in your cooperation. Do properly to proceed to remain at dwelling till additional directive from JUAC.”
Recall Politics Nigeria earlier reported that FCTA employees had earlier shut down key places of work in Abuja over unresolved welfare and salary-related points, resulting in widespread disruption of public companies throughout the capital.