FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has successfully negotiated a late-night truce with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), ending the strike that disrupted activities in parts of Abuja.
The breakthrough came around 3:50 a.m. on Tuesday after more than three hours of talks chaired by Senator Mohammed Bomoi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT. The meeting began shortly before midnight.
Present at the negotiations were Minister Wike, NLC President Joe Ajaero, TUC President Festus Osifo, their respective secretaries, and other key stakeholders.
On Monday, organised labour had insisted that the planned protest would go ahead to press the demands of FCTA workers. The FCT police, however, warned against the strike for safety reasons, citing concerns that the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN/Shi’ites) and other non-state actors might hijack the protest to disrupt public peace.
Prior to the talks, Wike had also secured an interim court order preventing the NLC and TUC from proceeding with the strike.
Following the agreement, a joint statement from NLC and TUC confirmed that no worker would face retaliation due to the strike. They also announced that all pending cases at the National Industrial Court (NIC) would be withdrawn immediately.
NLC Secretary-General Upah, joined by TUC General Secretary Nuhu Toro and other labour leaders, said: “All affiliates are hereby informed that a conciliatory meeting was held between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, at the instance of the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi.
“At the conclusion of the meeting, the following resolutions were reached: All complaints presented by JUAC members were taken one after the other and fully addressed. The Honourable Minister assured organized labour of mutual respect and sustained engagement going forward.”
He further stated that all FCT workers have been directed to return to duty immediately. “Consequently, all JUAC members and all affiliates of the TUC and NLC working in the Ministry of the FCT (MFCT) are hereby directed to resume work immediately. All affiliates are enjoined to comply strictly with this directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony, in good faith.”
