Authorities in Nigeria’s capital have launched a dual legal and security offensive to stop a planned mass protest by the country’s largest labour unions, citing fears of a “terrorist hijack.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had vowed to march on the city on Tuesday in solidarity with striking municipal workers. However, a late-night court injunction and an urgent police warning have thrown the capital into a state of high tension.
Police say they have “credible intelligence” that the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and other “non-state actors” plan to infiltrate the rally to cause “chaos and a breakdown of law and order.”
The ‘Double Lock’ on Dissent
The government’s attempt to halt the march is moving on two fronts:
- The Security Warning: Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh “respectfully appealed” to unions to reschedule, warning that the protest is a target for groups “inimical to public peace.”
- The Legal Blow: A National Industrial Court judge, Justice Emmanuel Subilim, issued an interim order on Monday restraining the unions from any form of protest. The injunction was granted following an emergency application by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
‘We are going ahead’
Despite the twin obstacles of a court order and a police terror warning, labour leaders remain defiant. NLC spokesperson Benson Upah told reporters the rally would proceed as planned, claiming the union had not been officially served with the court papers.
The dispute stems from a strike that began on 19 January over unpaid salaries and “appalling” working conditions for staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). Unions have accused Minister Wike of “intimidation” and “anti-worker” tactics.
Analysis: High-stakes brinkmanship
By Segun Ojumu, Africa Eye News, Abuja
This has become a classic Nigerian standoff: “Big Government” vs “Big Labour.” By invoking the threat of the proscribed IMN, the police have effectively raised the stakes from a simple labour dispute to a matter of national security. This puts the unions in a difficult position—if they march and violence occurs, the blame will be laid squarely at their feet.
However, for the unions, backing down now would be seen as a total surrender to Nyesom Wike’s hardline administration. The Minister’s use of “ex-parte” court orders to stop strikes is a familiar play, but with the NLC claiming they haven’t been “served,” Tuesday morning in Abuja is likely to be a volatile test of who truly controls the streets of the capital.
The court has adjourned the matter until 10 February.
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