By John Umeh
The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has issued an order preventing the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other affiliated groups from proceeding with a planned protest in the Federal Capital Territory.
The ruling, delivered on Monday by Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sibilim, followed an ex-parte motion brought before the court by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
In addition to the two major labour centres, the court’s restraining order also applies to three labour leaders—Benson Upah, General N. A. Toro, and Stephen Knabayi.
The application, marked Suit No. NICN/ABJ/30/26, sought to halt a mass demonstration scheduled to take place on February 3. After considering the submissions of the applicants, the court granted an interim injunction barring the unions, their representatives, and supporters from embarking on any form of protest or industrial action within the FCT.
The order will remain in effect pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice.
Justice Sibilim further directed security agencies to take all necessary steps to preserve peace and public order across the nation’s capital.
According to the FCT Minister and the FCTA, the leadership of the FCT Council of Labour Unions had circulated messages mobilising workers and affiliate unions to participate in the protest—an action they argued contravened existing court directives.
They informed the court that an earlier ruling issued on January 27 had already restrained the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), its affiliated unions, and FCTA workers from continuing industrial action, while also ordering an immediate return to work pending the resolution of the substantive suit. The claimants said that order was duly served the same day.
Despite this, the NLC and TUC were said to have released a joint statement encouraging their affiliates to sustain the strike, citing an appeal filed against the earlier injunction. JUAC subsequently directed workers to remain on strike.
The applicants argued that the continued mobilisation posed a threat to public safety and governance in Abuja, warning that the planned protest could disrupt traffic, interfere with residents’ rights, and halt activities in schools, offices, and other public and private institutions.
The court has fixed February 10 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
