The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and organised labour have reached a midnight agreement, leading to the suspension of the ongoing strike by FCT administration workers.
The truce was finalised after more than three hours of negotiations that ended around 3:50 a.m. on Tuesday. The talks were mediated by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in attendance.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, alongside TUC General Secretary, Dr. Nuhu Toro, announced that all complaints had been addressed.
Upah stated, “All complaints presented by members of the Joint Unions Action Committee were taken one after the other and fully addressed.”
Key resolutions include assurances that no worker will be victimised for participating in the strike, the immediate withdrawal of all cases filed at the National Industrial Court, and a commitment from the FCT Minister to maintain mutual respect and sustained dialogue with labour.
Consequently, workers under the Joint Unions Action Committee and affiliates of the NLC and TUC within the FCTA were directed to resume work immediately.
“All JUAC members and all affiliates of the TUC and NLC working in the Ministry of the FCT are hereby directed to resume work immediately,” Upah said.
The strike, which disrupted activities in Abuja for several days, was called over unresolved labour issues including unpaid salaries and poor working conditions. It proceeded despite security warnings from the FCT Police Command and a court order restraining the action. The Senate Committee’s intervention ultimately facilitated the resolution.
