The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken the Joint Unions Action Committee of the Federal Capital Territory Administration to court over the ongoing strike by FCTA workers, as the dispute heads for a hearing on Monday.

Workers of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority commenced an indefinite strike on Monday after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum, grounding activities across major government offices in Abuja.

The industrial action shut down operations at the FCTA Secretariat, prompting the deployment of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force to restrict access to the complex.

Despite claims by the FCTA management that most of the workers’ demands had been met, the JUAC rejected the assertion and insisted that the issues at stake remained unresolved.

The lawsuit, sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, was filed at the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

It bears suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026 and is being presided over by Justice E. D. Subilim.

The claimants are the FCT Minister and the FCTA, while the defendants are the President of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the Secretary General, Abdullahi Saleh, sued in their representative capacities.

Court documents sighted by The PUNCH indicated that the minister and the FCTA are seeking an order restraining the unions and their agents from engaging in picketing, obstruction, lockouts or any action directed at the claimants, departmental heads and political appointees.

The unions were accused of blocking roads, shutting offices and disrupting the smooth running of the FCT administration.

At the hearing of the application, counsel for the claimants were present in court, while the defendants were absent.

The minister and the FCTA were represented by a team of senior lawyers, including Ogwu Onoja (SAN); M.A. Ebute (SAN); George Ibrahim (SAN); K.O. Mustapha and Esther Audu.

After reviewing the affidavits and written submissions, Justice Subilim held that the applicants had established sufficient grounds for the reliefs sought and granted leave for substituted service of court processes on the defendants.

In a ruling delivered on January 21, the court granted leave for substituted service of court processes on the defendants.

The judge ordered that service be effected through publication in Leadership Newspaper or any other national daily, as well as by pasting the processes at the JUAC office located at the FCTA Secretariat, No. 1 Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.

Justice Subilim said, “Having listened to counsel for applicants and taking a close look at the reliefs, the affidavit and the written address thereto, I am of the view that the applicant has established a case to warrant the granting of the reliefs sought. “Accordingly, an order for leave is hereby granted to serve the originating processes and any or all subsequent process in this suit on the defendants by substituted means by advertising/publishing same in the Leadership Newspaper or any other National Newspaper or Daily in Nigeria and pasting same on the premises of Joint Union Action Committee at FCTA Secretariat No 1 Kapital Street, Area l1, Garki, Abuja.

“An order is hereby granted, deeming the said mode of service as good and proper service on the Defendants. This case is hereby adjourned to 26/01/2026 for Motion on Notion.”

Meanwhile, JUAC has vowed to continue the strike action despite the legal challenge.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union leadership commended workers for complying with its directive to stay away from work.

“We sincerely appreciate you for complying with the directive to stay at home. The strike action continues until our demands are met,” the statement said.

JUAC confirmed it was aware of the court action, stating, “The union wishes to bring to the notice of all staff that the Minister of the FCTA has taken us to court.”

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has told the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party, LP, to turn a new leaf, sheathe their sword and respect the judgement of the Federal High Court recognizing the Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party.

Otti, who was reacting to the judgement of the Federal High Court, promised to forgive and reintegrate the Abure faction if they ‘turn a new leaf  and become law-abiding.”

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Otti described the judgement as sound, and thanked those he described as lovers of democracy for standing with LP during the troubling times.

The Governor called on those responsible for all the frivolous litigations against the party to sheathe their sword and respect the judgement, which he said is in tandem with the earlier judgement of the Supreme Court.

Otti charged the national leadership of the Labour Party to see the court victory as an opportunity to rejig the party by ensuring that peace, unity and justice reigned, in line with the party’s constitution and ideals.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has explored cutting-edge technologies to strengthen the Nigerian Navy fleet.

The CNS attended the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026), held in Qatar, as part of efforts to further enhance the Nigerian Navy’s platform holdings and operational capabilities.

This was contained in a statement signed by Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information.

DIMDEX 2026, hosted by the Qatar Armed Forces under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, is the largest maritime defence and security exhibition in the Middle East.

The event brings together global maritime stakeholders to showcase emerging technologies and innovations in naval warfare and maritime security.

During the four-day exhibition, Vice Admiral Abbas engaged extensively with leading solution providers in the maritime defence industry, focusing on modern naval platforms, precision-guided munitions, naval gunfire support systems, and opportunities for technology transfer.

These engagements are aimed at enhancing the Nigerian Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding capacity and aligning its fleet development with cutting-edge global standards.

The CNS recalled that the Nigerian Navy has made notable progress in local shipbuilding, having successfully constructed and commissioned five seagoing platforms: MV Sauka Lafia (2010), NNS Andoni (2012), NNS Karaduwa (2016), MV Tug Commander Ugwu (2016), and NNS Oji (2021).

He noted that sustained technology-transfer partnerships would further position the Nigerian Navy as a leading warship manufacturer on the African continent.

DIMDEX 2026 also provided an opportunity for the Nigerian Navy to assess equipment options suitable for maritime security operations within Nigerian waters and across the Gulf of Guinea.

In addition, discussions were held on equipment requirements for the recently established Nigerian Navy Marines, who are expected to be deployed in various ongoing joint operations nationwide.

These engagements align with the vision of developing “a modern, agile and professional naval force dedicated to securing Nigeria’s maritime interests and advancing national security objectives in synergy with other security agencies.”

Several visiting warships from partner nations were also berthed at Hamad Port during the exhibition, offering dignitaries and participants practical insights into contemporary naval capabilities and interoperability.

The Nigerian Navy said its participation in DIMDEX 2026 has opened new avenues for strategic partnerships, fleet modernisation, and enhanced maritime security capacity in line with emerging global trends.

Lagos State has taken the lead in the All Progressives Congress, APC, nationwide e-registration exercise, emerging as the state with the highest number of digitally registered members among the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The e-registration programme, which commenced in December 2025 and is scheduled to conclude on January 31, 2026, was introduced to create a comprehensive digital database of party members across the country.

DAILY PIST reports that Lagos began its registration process on January 5, 2026, and within a short period displaced Delta State, which had topped the chart for nearly three months.

In just 15 days, the state recorded remarkable figures, putting it on course to meet its ambition of enrolling millions of members into the party.

Lagos State Coordinator of the exercise, Comrade Prince Ayodele Adewale, attributed the achievement to meticulous planning, strong collaboration with local government officials and ward-level party structures, as well as the effective deployment of technology to track and manage registrations in real time.

He expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for their support throughout the process.

Adewale also commended the state APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, members of the state executive council, and the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, led by Alhaji Oluyole Olusi, for their strategic leadership and efforts in mobilising party members across the state.

Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kaura-Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, Hon. Sani Jaji, has raised concerns over alleged attempts to undermine the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections through the ongoing e-membership registration exercise.

Speaking with journalists in Bauna after meeting with the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the lawmaker alleged that certain individuals were deliberately excluded from the registration process.

According to him, some members affiliated with the Jajiyya movement in the state were denied the opportunity to register.

“I met with the National Chairman today because when the e-registration started, I was out of the country on Lesser Hajj. While I was away, my people contacted me and complained that there was a problem,” Jaji said.

“They prevented the State Organising Secretary from fully participating in the process, and some members of the Jajiyya movement were denied registration. Up to this moment, I have not been registered, despite being a sitting member of the House of Representatives and having served as Director of Contact and Mobilisation during the 2023 presidential campaign. That made it clear to me that something was wrong.”

The lawmaker explained that his visit to the party secretariat was prompted by fears that similar internal issues had previously weakened political parties.

He recalled that comparable developments contributed to the decline of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2015.

“They undermined the party’s structure in the state, and that was one of the reasons the party collapsed, among other factors.

“We needed to bring this to the attention of the National Chairman so that urgent steps can be taken to stop actions that are unhealthy for the party,” he said.

He stressed the need for transparency and inclusiveness in the registration process to safeguard the unity and strength of the APC ahead of future elections.

The Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must give notice of at least 360 days before elections.

Nwankwo said this on Wednesday while fielding questions in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ monitored by DAILY POST.

He said that the National Assembly cannot continue to delay the passage of the Electoral Bill, adding that time is running out, and it needs to be prioritised.

“We need time for preparation for the election. We need certain things in the electoral laws and legal framework both the international instruments, including ECOWAS protocols, Nigerian constitution and in fact the Electoral Act stipulates the need for certainty in electoral law.

“When you look at the constitution and the Electoral Act, it’s quite clear saying that you must give notice of election 360 days before the elections. And those 360 days are still in the current 2022 Electoral Act, so it’s not a problem.

“But there are announcements and pronouncements and stipulations you need to put out in terms of that notice being issued and I must say that the National Assembly has been fantastic.

“The Senate and the House of Representatives are going through the process of deliberations, reviews conversation and actually do have a document,” he said.