The industrial action that paralyzed the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for over two weeks has been called off.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have jointly ordered all striking workers to resume duties immediately.The directive follows a marathon conciliatory meeting brokered by Senator Mohammed Bomoi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, between the unions and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The meeting resolved the core grievances that triggered the strike on January 19.
In a circular signed by TUC Secretary General N.A. Toro and NLC Ag. General Secretary Benson Upah, the unions stated that all complaints by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) were “fully addressed to the satisfaction of all parties involved.”
Key resolutions from the meeting include a guarantee from Minister Wike of “mutual respect and sustained engagement,” an agreement that no worker will be victimized for participating in the strike, and a commitment to immediately withdraw all related cases from the National Industrial Court (NIC).
The breakthrough comes after a period of legal tension. The NIC had earlier, on January 27, ordered the workers to suspend the strike pending the determination of a suit filed by the FCT Minister. Despite a subsequent FCTA directive to return to work, the NLC had initially instructed members to continue the action.
Just a day before the resolution, the NIC had issued an interim order restraining the NLC, TUC, and others from proceeding with a planned protest scheduled for today, February 3.The striking workers, under JUAC, had protested issues including non-remittance of pension and housing fund deductions, delays in promotion arrears, and irregularities in promotion exercises.
The strike led to a near-total shutdown of FCTA and FCDA agencies.With the unions now declaring the matter resolved “in the interest of industrial peace and harmony,” normal operations are expected to resume across FCTA secretariats and departments.
