KEY POINTS

• National Industrial Court restrains NLC, TUC and union leaders from protesting or striking in Abuja.

• Order follows allegations of disobedience to an earlier court injunction directing workers to resume duties.

• Case adjourned to February 10, 2026, for hearing of motion on notice.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, has restrained the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and three other individuals from embarking on any form of protest or industrial action within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Justice Emmanuel Subilim issued the interim order on Monday after hearing an ex parte application brought by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Those affected by the order include the NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah; the TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro; and the Chairman of the FCT chapter of the NLC, Stephen Knabayi.

The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/30/26, was filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, James Onoja, on behalf of the minister and the FCTA.

Strike, Protest Temporarily Halted

In his ruling, Justice Subilim restrained the first to fifth respondents, as well as their agents and privies, from embarking on any strike or protest pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice.

The court also directed the fifth to ninth defendants, identified as security agencies, to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in Abuja.

The judge adjourned the matter until February 10, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive motion.

The claimants told the court that the chairman of the FCT NLC council had circulated a mobilisation message calling on workers and affiliate unions to participate in a mass protest scheduled for February 3.

They argued that the mobilisation was in violation of an interlocutory injunction earlier granted by the court on January 27, 2026, which restrained the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) and its affiliates from continuing industrial action and directed workers to resume duties.

According to the affidavit, the January ruling was served on the unions the same day it was delivered.

Despite this, the claimants alleged that the NLC and TUC jointly issued a directive asking members to intensify and sustain the strike, citing the filing of an appeal by their counsel, Femi Falana, SAN.

The FCTA further alleged that JUAC subsequently circulated another directive instructing all workers to continue the strike.

The industrial action, which reportedly began on January 19, 2026, involved the locking of entrances to FCTA offices, secretariats, schools, departments and agencies, effectively paralysing government activities across the territory.

The claimants said these actions were capable of provoking unrest, obstructing vehicular movement and infringing on the rights of residents, private sector workers, expatriates and visitors to the capital.