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The leadership of organised labour and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, met again on Monday following days of tension that paralysed activities across Abuja.
The marathon, closed-door meeting convened by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, lasted more than three hours and stretched into the early hours of Tuesday.
Sources at the meeting told journalists that proceedings initially degenerated into a heated shouting match among key actors before Bomoi intervened to restore calm and steer discussions toward a resolution.
The meeting, which began shortly before midnight, ended around 3:50am. In attendance were Wike, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo; the general secretaries of both labour centres; and other stakeholders.
The talks followed the insistence by organised labour—under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC)—that it would proceed with a mass protest over unresolved grievances affecting FCTA workers, despite warnings by the police and an interim court order obtained by the FCT Administration restraining the action.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, said labour and the FCT minister agreed on key confidence-building measures, including a non-victimisation clause for workers who participated in the strike.
“No worker shall be victimised in any manner arising from the strike action,” Upah said, flanked by TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, and other labour leaders.
He disclosed that all pending cases filed at the National Industrial Court (NIC) would be withdrawn immediately as part of the settlement.
According to Upah, all grievances presented by JUAC members were discussed and addressed, while Wike assured labour of “mutual respect and sustained engagement” going forward.
“Consequently, all JUAC members and all affiliates of the TUC and NLC working in the Ministry of the FCT are hereby directed to resume work immediately,” he announced.
Labour leaders urged their affiliates to comply with the directive “in the interest of industrial peace and harmony,” bringing an end—at least for now—to a dispute that had threatened to ground governance and services in the nation’s capital.
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