By Maureen Okpe
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja has ordered workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to immediately suspend their ongoing strike.
The order followed a fresh legal intervention in the dispute, with the court ruling that the industrial action must stop now that the matter is before it.
Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Emmanuel Subilim held that once a trade dispute enters the judicial process, industrial action can no longer continue.
The judge acknowledged that the disagreement between the parties qualifies as a trade dispute under Nigerian labour laws.
However, Justice Subilim stressed that the right of workers to embark on a strike is not absolute and is subject to legal limitations.
He warned that allowing the strike to continue while the case is pending would undermine the authority of the court and the orderly resolution of disputes.
“As soon as a trade dispute is referred to this court, any ongoing industrial action must stop,” the judge ruled.
He added that all parties are required to maintain the status quo pending the final determination of the case.
The court consequently granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the workers and their representatives from continuing the strike.
The injunction will remain in force until the National Industrial Court concludes hearing and determines the substantive issues in the suit.