FCT Workers to Resume Work After Wike, Labour Unions Reach Agreement

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and organised labour unions have struck a late-night deal that resulted in the suspension of the strike and the immediate return to work by affected staff.

The agreement followed over three hours of talks that extended into the early hours of Tuesday, concluding around 3:50 a.m. The negotiations were facilitated by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in attendance.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Acting NLC General Secretary, Comrade Benson Upah, alongside TUC General Secretary, Dr Nuhu Toro, said the discussions produced several resolutions aimed at restoring industrial harmony.

Upah explained that the resolutions included guarantees that no worker would be penalised for taking part in the strike, the immediate withdrawal of all cases filed at the National Industrial Court, and a pledge by the FCT Minister to uphold mutual respect and maintain continuous dialogue with organised labour.

“All issues raised by members of the Joint Unions Action Committee were taken one by one and adequately resolved,” Upah said.

He added that the Minister gave assurances of ongoing engagement with labour unions.

Following the agreement, workers under the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), as well as NLC and TUC affiliates within the FCT Administration, were instructed to resume duties with immediate effect.

“All JUAC members and all affiliates of the TUC and NLC working in the Ministry of the FCT are hereby directed to return to work immediately,” Upah stated.

He further urged all affiliates to comply fully with the directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.

The industrial action stemmed from unresolved labour concerns within the FCT Administration, prompting the NLC and TUC to down tools and threaten mass protests, despite security warnings from the FCT Police Command and a court injunction restraining the action.

The strike had disrupted activities across the nation’s capital for several days before the Senate Committee on the FCT intervened to broker the resolution.