Written by Johnbosco Agbakwuru
Abuja — A midnight deal between organized labor organizations and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike resulted in the suspension of the current strike and the prompt return of impacted workers to their jobs.
After over three hours of negotiations that continued into Tuesday morning and finished at approximately 3:50 a.m., the truce was finally struck. Leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) attended the discussions, which were facilitated by Senator Mohammed Bomoi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT.
Following the meeting, Comrade Benson Upah, the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, and Dr. Nuhu Toro, the General Secretary of the TUC, briefed reporters, stating that a number of measures were achieved to bring about industrial peace.
According to Upah, the agreements included the FCT Minister’s pledge to uphold mutual respect and ongoing communication with organized labor, guarantees that no worker would suffer harm as a result of taking part in the strike, and the immediate withdrawal of all cases filed in the National Industrial Court.
According to Upah, “all of the Joint Unions Action Committee members’ complaints were taken one after the other and fully addressed.”
He went on to say that the Minister promised organized labor that they will continue to be involved in the future.
As a result, employees under the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) and NLC and TUC affiliates in the FCT Administration were instructed to resume work immediately.
According to Upah, “all JUAC members and all TUC and NLC affiliates working in the Ministry of the FCT are hereby directed to resume work immediately.”
“In the interest of industrial peace and harmony and in good faith, all affiliates are obliged to adhere strictly to this directive.”
Despite warnings from the FCT Police Command about security risks and a court order prohibiting the action, the NLC and TUC threatened to go on strike and stage large-scale rallies because of the unresolved labor issues within the FCT Administration.
The Senate Committee on the FCT’s participation resulted in the resolution after the walkout had hampered activities in the nation’s capital for many days.
