The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and organised labour unions have reached an agreement that brought an end to the ongoing strike and paved the way for the immediate resumption of work by affected employees in the nation’s capital.
The resolution was achieved after intense negotiations that lasted over three hours and stretched into the early hours of Tuesday, concluding at about 3:50 a.m.
The meeting was convened under the leadership of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, and was attended by top officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Speaking to journalists shortly after the meeting, the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, alongside the TUC General Secretary, Dr Nuhu Toro, disclosed that several key understandings were reached to restore industrial harmony.
According to Upah, the agreements included firm assurances that no worker would face victimisation for taking part in the strike, the immediate withdrawal of all cases filed at the National Industrial Court, and a commitment by the FCT Minister to sustain dialogue and uphold mutual respect in engagements with organised labour.
“All complaints presented by members of the Joint Unions Action Committee were taken one after the other and fully addressed,” Upah said.
He further explained that the Minister gave assurances of continued engagement with labour unions to prevent a recurrence of such disputes.
Following the agreement, workers under the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), as well as affiliates of the NLC and TUC within the FCT Administration, were instructed to return to work without delay.
“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.
“All affiliates are enjoined to comply strictly with this directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony and in good faith.”
The industrial action stemmed from lingering labour-related grievances within the FCT Administration, which prompted the NLC and TUC to embark on a strike and threaten mass protests. This was despite warnings from the FCT Police Command over security concerns and an existing court order restraining the action.
The strike disrupted activities across Abuja for several days, affecting public services and daily life in the capital, before the intervention of the Senate Committee on the FCT facilitated the breakthrough that ended the standoff.
What you should know
The strike by organised labour in the Federal Capital Territory was triggered by unresolved workplace and welfare issues involving FCT Administration employees.
Despite a court order and security warnings, unions initially proceeded with industrial action, leading to widespread disruption in Abuja. The intervention of the Senate Committee on the FCT created a neutral platform for dialogue, allowing both parties to resolve their differences.
The agreement reached reflects a renewed commitment to dialogue, non-victimisation of workers, and the withdrawal of legal actions, setting the stage for restored services and improved labour-government relations in the capital.
