The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has issued an interim injunction preventing the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other labour groups from going ahead with a planned protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The order was granted on Monday by Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sibilim following an ex-parte motion filed by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, alongside the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). Also affected by the ruling are three labour leaders—Comrades Benson Upah, General N.A. Toro, and Stephen Knabayi.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/30/26, was instituted to halt a mass demonstration scheduled for February 3. In granting the application, the court restrained the respondents, including their agents and affiliates, from embarking on any form of protest, strike, or industrial action within the FCT pending the determination of a motion on notice.
Justice Sibilim further directed security agencies to take necessary steps to maintain peace and public order across the nation’s capital.
In their submission, the FCT Minister and the FCTA informed the court that the Chairman of the FCT Council of Labour Unions had circulated a mobilisation notice urging workers and affiliated unions to participate in the planned protest. They argued that the move was in direct violation of subsisting court orders.
According to the claimants, the court had earlier, on January 27, issued an interlocutory injunction restraining the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), its affiliated unions, and FCTA workers from continuing industrial action, while directing them to resume work pending the resolution of the substantive case. They stated that the order was duly served on the same day.
Despite this, the NLC and TUC were accused of issuing a joint directive asking affiliate unions to sustain the strike, citing an appeal lodged against the interlocutory ruling. JUAC, the claimants added, subsequently instructed workers to continue the industrial action.
The applicants contended that the actions of the unions were capable of disrupting governance in the FCT and triggering a breakdown of law and order. They also warned that the planned protest could impede traffic flow, infringe on residents’ rights, and disrupt activities in schools, government offices, and private establishments.
The court has fixed February 10 for the hearing of the motion on notice.