Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has brokered a late-night truce with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), bringing an end to the strike that disrupted activities across parts of Abuja.

The agreement, which paves the way for workers to return to their duty posts immediately, was reached around 3:50 a.m. yesterday after more than three hours of negotiations.

The talks were chaired by the Senate Committee on the FCT, led by Senator Mohammed Bomoi, and commenced shortly before midnight on Monday, ending in the early hours of Tuesday.

Key figures at the meeting included NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo, alongside the secretaries of both labour centres and other critical stakeholders.

Organised labour had earlier insisted there would be no retreat from the planned mass protest to press home the demands of workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The action had drawn caution from the police, who advised the unions to reschedule the protest in the “interest of safety,” citing alleged plots by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN/Shi’ites) and other non-state actors to infiltrate and hijack the demonstration.

Wike had also secured an interim court order restraining the NLC and TUC from embarking on the strike.

However, a joint statement issued after the meeting and signed by the NLC and TUC confirmed that all issues were resolved, with assurances that no worker would be victimised as a result of the strike.

TUC Secretary Nuhu Toro announced that all pending cases at the National Industrial Court (NIC) would be withdrawn immediately.

“All complaints presented by JUAC members were taken one after the other and fully addressed,” Toro said.
“The honourable minister assured organised labour of mutual respect and sustained engagement going forward.”

He further directed all workers in the FCT to resume duties without delay.

“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,” Toro stated.
“All affiliates are enjoined to comply strictly with this directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony, in good faith.”

The resolution effectively restores normal activities across the FCT following the suspension of the industrial action.