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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The strike by workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been suspended after a late-night agreement between the FCT Administration and organised labour following extended negotiations with the Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
Organised labour under the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) confirmed the ceasefire in a joint circular issued on Tuesday, directing all affected workers to return to work immediately.
The conciliatory meeting, convened at the instance of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, began about 11:45 p.m. on Monday and ended at 3:51 a.m. on Tuesday after more than three hours of discussions.
Addressing journalists after the talks, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, said the negotiations delivered key assurances and commitments. “All complaints presented by members of the Joint Unions Action Committee were taken one after the other and fully addressed,” Upah said.
He disclosed that the agreement included guarantees that no worker would be penalised for participating in the strike and that all pending cases at the National Industrial Court would be withdrawn immediately. “The Minister committed to continuous engagement with organised labour,” he added.
Following the resolution, all JUAC members and affiliates of the NLC and TUC working in the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (MFCT) were instructed to resume duties without delay. “All affiliates are enjoined to comply strictly with this directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony and in good faith,” Upah stated.
As part of the agreement, the FCT Minister pledged mutual respect and sustained dialogue with organised labour going forward, reflecting a shared resolve to restore industrial harmony.
The circular was jointly signed on behalf of JUAC and the workers by the Secretary-General of the TUC, Comrade General N. A. Toro, PhD, mni, and the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah.
The industrial action followed mounting tensions between FCT workers and the administration over unresolved welfare and administrative concerns, including issues relating to conditions of service and alleged breaches of agreements previously reached with labour unions. The strike disrupted public services across the nation’s capital, affecting key government offices and essential administrative operations.
The dispute also spilled into the legal arena, with the FCT Administration securing interim orders from the National Industrial Court restraining organised labour from embarking on protest actions within the Federal Capital Territory. Labour unions, however, maintained that their grievances required urgent attention, prompting intensified negotiations that eventually led to the overnight truce.
The resolution is expected to restore normal public service operations across the FCT and reinforce industrial peace within the territory.