Tension Eases In Abuja As Labour Reaches Last-Minute Agreement With Wike

Normal activities have resumed at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) secretariat after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) suspended their planned solidarity protest on Tuesday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The decision followed a marathon meeting that lasted into the early hours of Tuesday, bringing an end to a week-long dispute between FCTA workers and the administration headed by Minister Nyesom Wike.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a visit to major offices on Wednesday — including the Minister’s Block, Treasury Department, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) — showed workers back at their posts, carrying out official duties and providing services to the public.

This development represents a major shift from the situation that began on January 19, when workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) commenced an indefinite strike over unresolved welfare concerns.

Although the National Industrial Court had ordered workers to return to duty on January 27, union leaders initially rejected the ruling, insisting the strike would continue until their demands were met.

The deadlock was eventually resolved during a late-night meeting involving Minister Wike, labour leaders, and Senator Mohammed Bomoi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, where key grievances were addressed.

Speaking after inspecting ongoing projects in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike described the outcome as positive, stressing that neither side emerged as a winner or loser.

“I’m happy that the trade union and labour congress came to see things for themselves. Sometimes it’s good. What they were told is not really what’s on the ground.

“But by and large, we had a good meeting, and they’ve directed the workers to go back to work, which you can see has been done.

“So, we’re happy that at the end of the day, there is no winner, no loser. It’s in the interest of Abuja to progress,” he told journalists.

Labour Assures No Victimisation, Court Cases To Be Dropped

In a joint circular signed by TUC Secretary-General Nuhu Toro and NLC Acting General Secretary Benson Upah, labour acknowledged the minister’s pledge of continued engagement and mutual respect on welfare matters.

They confirmed that no worker would face punishment for taking part in the strike, and that all pending cases at the National Industrial Court linked to the industrial action would be withdrawn immediately.

“The minister assured us that all concerns have been addressed. We expect that the mutual understanding built at the meeting will continue going forward,” the statement said.

Following the agreement, the NLC and TUC instructed all affected staff within the FCT Administration to return to work without delay, signalling a renewed move toward industrial harmony in Nigeria’s capital.