Wike Threatens Jail for FCTA Workers Defying Court Order

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has signaled possible jail time for striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) who have refused to suspend their industrial action despite a court directive.

The National Industrial Court had, on January 27, ordered the workers to return to work while a lawsuit filed by the minister is being determined. Wike’s legal team has since obtained Form 48, a formal notice warning of the consequences of disobeying a court order, paving the way for potential contempt proceedings.

The court registrar issued the notice, which states that continued defiance of the order could result in imprisonment. The ruling underscores that once a labour dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, all strikes must be suspended under the Trade Disputes Act.

While the workers maintain that their strike is justified due to an ongoing appeal, Wike’s lawyers insist that without a stay of execution, the court’s order remains binding and must be followed.