A request to stop Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) employees from continuing their ongoing strike has been delayed until January 27th, according to the National Industrial Court in Abuja.
After hearing the counsel’s opinions of both parties, Justice Emmanuel Subilim adjourned the case for decision.
The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is suing the court to compel the stricken FCTA workers to resign from their jobs, filed the lawsuit.
The workers started the strike because of allegedly unresolved welfare issues, including unpaid pay for five months, long-standing promotions, and unfavorable working conditions.
READ ALSO: FCTA, FCDA Workers Start Strike Over “Unmet Demands,” Shut Down Operations.
The FCT Minister and the FCTA are named as defendants in the lawsuit, while Rifkatu Iortyer, the JUAC’s president and secretary, and Abdullahi Saleh are named as defendants.
Maxwell Okpara, the defendants’ attorney, urged the court to join the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as respondents, contending that their inclusion would impose any ruling of the court on them.
However, James Onoja, SAN, the FCT Minister’s attorney, refrained from submitting the request, arguing only that the two defendants’ suits were legitimately brought against them. He also noted that they are not registered under the Trade Union Act.
Onoja argued that the Federal Capital Territory’s essential services have been undermined by the industrial action and demanded that the court grant the request and order the striking workers to go back to work.
Justice Subilim ruled in his decision regarding the joinder application that the court couldn’t compel the defendants to add more defendants because the claimants had chosen to sue only the two defendants.
Source: Channels TV
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