ABUJA – The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has escalated its legal battle against striking workers, as Minister Nyesom Wike has moved to commit the leadership of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) to prison for contempt of court.
This drastic legal step follows the workers’ continued defiance of a National Industrial Court order issued on Tuesday, which mandated the immediate suspension of their indefinite strike over unpaid salaries and promotion arrears. Despite the court’s directive and Wike’s public ultimatum, the workers have persisted with their industrial action, vowing not to return to work until their demands are met.
The application for committal to prison, filed by the FCT Minister’s legal team, argues that the union leaders have willfully and repeatedly disobeyed a lawful court order, constituting contempt. If granted by the court, the order could see the union executives imprisoned until they purge themselves of the contempt by complying with the earlier ruling to call off the strike.
This move marks the most severe enforcement action taken by the Wike-led administration in the ongoing standoff. The Minister had previously warned that workers failing to resume would face the “big stick” and be made a “scapegoat.” The NLC has publicly vowed to continue supporting the strike, framing it as a necessary fight for workers’ rights.
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Disclaimer: This report is based on legal actions initiated by the FCT Administration. The application for committal is a court process, and its outcome will be determined by a judge. The accused union leaders have the right to defend themselves in court.
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