The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) sitting in Abuja has ordered striking Federal Capital Territory (FCT) workers to immediately suspend their ongoing industrial action.

The court issued the order on Tuesday after granting an interlocutory injunction sought in a suit filed against members of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC).

The applicants approached the court in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/17/2026, naming the Chairman of the Joint Union Action Committee, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, as defendants. They asked the court to restrain the defendants and their associates from embarking on any form of strike, picketing, or lockout.

Court’s Ruling

Delivering his ruling, Justice E.D. Subilim held that while the matter qualified as a trade dispute and met the required legal conditions, the right of workers to embark on strike action is not absolute.

The judge emphasized that once a dispute is submitted to the National Industrial Court, workers are legally barred from continuing any industrial action.

He ruled that where a strike has already commenced, it must be suspended pending the determination of the suit.

“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the claimants and representatives… from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimant. The order shall remain in force, pending the determination of this suit,” Justice Subilim stated.

Hearing Date Fixed

The court subsequently fixed March 23, 2026, for the substantive hearing of the case.

The ruling effectively compels FCT workers to return to work while the legal dispute remains before the court.

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Nigeria’s worsening insecurity has claimed yet another innocent life, as a frontline health worker with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, Nurse Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumezie, was brutally murdered by suspected “one-chance” criminals while returning home from late-night duty.

Attack After Night Shift

BONA NAIJA gathered that the nurse, who had just closed from work, was attacked on Saturday night while commuting home within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). She reportedly fell victim to the notorious “one-chance” syndicates criminal groups that operate under the guise of commercial transport, abducting, robbing, and in many cases killing unsuspecting passengers.

Sources familiar with the incident said Chinemerem was returning from her official duties when the attackers struck, leaving her fatally injured. She was later confirmed dead, sending shocks to the medical community and reigniting public outrage over the growing dangers faced by workers commuting at night.

Health Sector in Mourning

The killing has plunged colleagues, family members, and the wider nursing profession into mourning, with many describing the incident as a tragic irony a nurse who dedicated her life to saving others, abandoned by the very system she served.

Reacting to the incident, the Elegant Nurses Forum issued a strongly worded statement condemning the murder and the rising wave of insecurity across Nigeria.

In the statement signed by Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide and released on Tuesday, the forum described the killing as “painful, brutal, and completely unacceptable.”

“We are deeply saddened and outraged by the brutal murder of Nurse Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumezie of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja. She was murdered by suspected ‘one-chance’ criminals while returning home after a late duty,” the statement read.

“This is a painful and unacceptable loss. Nurse Chinemerem was a dedicated health worker who spent her life caring for others, only to be failed by a system that could not guarantee her safety.”

A Broader Crisis of Insecurity

The forum stressed that Chinemerem’s killing was not an isolated incident but part of a wider national crisis where workers particularly essential service providers are routinely exposed to danger.

According to the group, health workers are often required to work night shifts, emergency calls, and extended hours but are left to navigate unsafe roads and transport systems without adequate protection.

“Health workers are compelled to work late hours, night shifts, and emergency duties, yet are left to navigate unsafe roads and transport systems without protection. These deaths are preventable,” the forum said.

“A responsible government would not allow workers, especially essential workers, to be exposed to such risks daily.”

Unions Accused of Silence

Beyond government, the Elegant Nurses Forum also criticised labour unions and trade union leaders for what it described as disturbing silence amid the growing attacks on Nigerian workers.

“Workers are being kidnapped, assaulted, and killed, yet there is no coordinated, firm response that matches the gravity of the situation. Silence in times like this amounts to complicity,” the group warned.

Demands for Justice and Protection

The forum outlined a series of urgent demands aimed at preventing further loss of lives, including:

• Immediate and thorough investigation into the murder of Nurse Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumezie
• Arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators involved
• Government-funded staff shuttle services for hospitals and major workplaces, particularly for late-night and early-morning shifts
• Strengthened security around health institutions and major worker routes, including visible policing and intelligence-driven patrols
• Formal recognition of health workers as high-risk essential workers, with specific safety policies
• Active intervention by labour unions to confront insecurity and defend workers’ lives
• Accountability from security officials, backed by measurable actions rather than promises

“Enough Is Enough”

In a powerful closing message, the forum declared that Nigerian nurses could no longer be left unprotected.

“The life of every Nigerian matters. The life of every nurse matters. Nurses cannot continue to save lives by day and be abandoned to death by night. Enough is enough.”

The Elegant Nurses Forum expressed solidarity with the bereaved family, colleagues, and loved ones of the slain nurse, insisting that justice must be served.

“We demand justice, safety, and responsible governance now, not after more lives are lost.”

Renewed Calls for Action

Nurse Chinemerem’s death has once again drawn attention to the menace of “one-chance” criminals in Abuja and other major cities, as well as the broader failure of authorities to secure public transportation routes particularly at night.

As Nigerians mourn yet another life cut short, pressure continues to mount on the government to move beyond condolences and take concrete steps to protect citizens, especially those who keep essential services running at great personal risk.

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The Director-General of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Phillip Shaibu, has announced that the Institute has begun reviving its core training programmes after more than 30 years of inactivity, describing the move as a major step toward rebuilding Nigeria’s sports ecosystem.

Shaibu made the disclosure on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, revealing that the NIS recently conducted its first three-month coaching programme in three decades.

According to him, the programme was held in Abuja, with participants officially graduating on December 18, 2025.

“We had our first three-month coaching programme after 30 years in Abuja, and we graduated those students on December 18,” Shaibu said.

The NIS boss explained that the revival was made possible through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, which he said became necessary due to the deteriorated state of the Institute when he assumed office.

Shaibu noted that while the ideal model is for government to provide infrastructure and the private sector to manage operations, prevailing circumstances forced a reversal of that approach.

“I couldn’t wait because the state I met NIS was a reflection of how our sports sector is being treated,” he said.

He added that the decay at the Institute mirrors the uncertainty and disappointment Nigerians often experience during international sporting competitions.

Shaibu stressed that the National Institute of Sports plays a foundational role in Nigeria’s sports development, producing athletes, coaches, referees, and technical officials who sustain the entire sports value chain.

According to him, the Institute serves as the central training hub for the nation’s sports ecosystem, and its prolonged dysfunction has had far-reaching consequences.

“NIS is the critical sector that produces the players, coaches, and referees. It is the training institute for the sports ecosystem. So, when that system is not functioning, don’t expect anything better in Nigerian sports because the engine room for sports is not functioning,” the former Edo State deputy governor stated.

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has again reduced the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, across its retail outlets.

BONA NAIJA learnt that NNPCL filling stations have adjusted the price to ₦815 per litre, down from ₦835 per litre in Abuja representing a ₦20 reduction.

The new price has already taken effect at several NNPCL retail outlets, including Wuse Zones 4 and 6, Keffi Abuja Road, and Kubwa Expressway.

A staff member at one of the NNPCL stations, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Daily Post that the price adjustment was implemented on Sunday evening.

Despite the reduction, NNPCL’s ₦815 per litre remains ₦79 higher than the ₦739 per litre currently sold at Dangote Refinery backed MRS filling stations nationwide

Recall that on December 19, 2025, NNPCL slashed petrol prices by ₦80, bringing it down to ₦835 per litre. The move came amid an intense price war in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, sparked by Dangote Refinery’s gantry price reduction to ₦699 per litre.

Industry watchers say the latest cut signals increasing competition among fuel marketers, with consumers hoping for further price reductions in the coming weeks.

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British rapper Skepta has arrived in Abuja, Nigeria, ahead of ODUMODUBLVCK’s highly anticipated “Capital Machine” concert, scheduled for today, December 18, as part of the capital city’s Detty December celebrations.

The UK grime star, who was recently named British GQ’s Man of the Year, is back on Nigerian soil to show support for ODUMODUBLVCK, fondly known as Big Kala. Skepta’s arrival has already stirred excitement among fans, with many hailing the moment as a powerful link-up between global rap culture and Nigeria’s fast-rising street-hop movement.

Skepta, whose roots trace back to Nigeria, has consistently embraced his heritage, frequently collaborating with African artists and maintaining strong ties with the local music scene. His presence in Abuja adds major star power to the Capital Machine concert, which has been billed as one of the standout shows of the festive season in the capital.

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ODUMODUBLVCK’s Capital Machine concert is expected to draw a massive crowd, celebrating the rapper’s dominance, cultural impact, and growing influence beyond Nigeria’s borders. With Skepta in town, speculation is already swirling about a possible surprise appearance or on-stage moment that could turn the concert into a historic Detty December highlight.

As Abuja lights up for the festivities, all eyes are on the Capital Machine stage, where culture, street energy, and global recognition are set to collide tonight.

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