JUAC Heads To Appeal Court Over FCTA Workers’ Strike

According to Ireporter Online, the leadership of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) has taken legal steps at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking permission to challenge an interlocutory ruling of the National Industrial Court that restrained the union and its members from embarking on industrial action.

The appeal was filed on Wednesday on behalf of JUAC Chairman, Riftkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Abdullahi Saleh, by a legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana. Other members of the team include Funmi Falana and three additional senior counsel.

In their motion, brought pursuant to Sections 6, 6(b) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and relevant provisions of the Court of Appeal Rules, the applicants are asking the appellate court to stay the execution of the ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court on Tuesday, January 27, pending the determination of their appeal.

The union leaders informed the court that they have already prepared and attached a notice of appeal which raises substantial and complex issues of law with strong prospects of success. They argued that the order restraining them from embarking on industrial action violates their constitutional rights and should be suspended until the appeal is decided.

The legal action follows an indefinite strike embarked upon last week by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over unresolved labour and welfare concerns. The strike led to the disruption of activities across several government offices in Abuja.

However, the National Industrial Court on Tuesday ordered workers under the FCTA payroll to immediately suspend the industrial action. In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that while the matter qualified as a trade dispute, the right of workers to embark on a strike was not absolute, noting that any strike must cease once a dispute is referred to the court until the case is resolved.

Reacting to the court’s directive, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, warned that any worker who failed to return to duty would face disciplinary measures. He stressed that disobedience to the law would not be tolerated, adding that decisive action would be taken against anyone who attempts to disrupt official activities.