The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have shelved a planned protest against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and directed members on the payroll of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to resume work with immediate effect. The development brings a temporary end to weeks of industrial action that disrupted government operations in the nation’s capital.
The breakthrough followed an overnight conciliatory meeting convened on Monday night by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, which began at about 11:45 p.m. and ended in the early hours of Tuesday. Present at the marathon talks were labour leaders from the NLC and TUC and FCT Minister Wike.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the unions said all outstanding complaints raised by members of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) were “fully addressed” during deliberations. As part of the resolution, both parties agreed that all pending cases before the National Industrial Court (NIC) related to the dispute would be withdrawn immediately.
“The Honourable Minister assured organised labour of mutual respect and sustained engagement going forward,” the statement read, adding that no worker would be victimised for participating in the strike. It further directed that “all JUAC members and all affiliates of the TUC and NLC working in the Ministry of the FCT… resume work immediately”, urging strict compliance in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.
The industrial action began on January 19 after FCTA workers, under the JUAC umbrella, embarked on an indefinite strike over unresolved labour and welfare demands, including unpaid allowances, non-remittance of statutory deductions and promotion arrears. The strike led to the shutdown of many FCTA secretariats and agencies, prompting legal action by the FCTA.
On January 27, the National Industrial Court ordered striking workers to suspend the action, holding that once a dispute is referred to the court, the right to strike is not absolute and must cease pending judicial determination. Despite the ruling and directives from the FCTA Head of Service for workers to resume duties, some labour factions continued industrial action.
Efforts to hold a mass protest scheduled for February 3 were further complicated when the National Industrial Court issued an interim order restraining the NLC, TUC and several labour leaders from embarking on any industrial action or protest in Abuja following an ex parte application filed by Minister Wike and the FCTA on Monday. The ruling, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Subilim, cited concerns over potential disruption of law and order in the capital.
Amid the dispute, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command had earlier appealed to labour organisers to postpone planned rallies, citing intelligence about possible infiltration by non-state actors.
With the fresh agreement and directive to resume work, activities across FCTA departments are expected to return to normal, bringing temporary relief to residents and public service users in Abuja. The unions and the FCT administration have pledged continued engagement to avert future industrial unrest.
