Labour unions have instructed their members and affiliates under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) payroll to resume work with immediate effect.
The directive, contained in a joint circular issued on Tuesday by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), followed a marathon conciliatory meeting between the unions and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
“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,” the circular, signed by TUC Secretary-General N.A. Toro and NLC Acting General Secretary Benson Upah, stated. “All affiliates are enjoined to comply strictly with this directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony, in good faith.”
The breakthrough was reportedly brokered by Senate Committee on FCT Chairman Mohammed Bomoi, during which grievances that had grounded activities at the FCTA Secretariat since January 19 were addressed. The unions said all complaints by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) were fully resolved, with Wike assuring organised labour of mutual respect and sustained engagement to maintain a harmonious working relationship.
Other resolutions include a commitment that no worker shall be victimized for participating in the strike and that all outstanding cases at the National Industrial Court (NIC) related to the dispute would be withdrawn immediately.
The strike, led by JUAC, had shut down operations across FCTA and FCDA departments and agencies. Workers had protested issues including non-remittance of statutory deductions (Pension and National Housing Fund), delayed promotion arrears, and irregularities in promotion exercises.
Previously, the National Industrial Court had ordered the strike to be suspended, ruling that while the dispute was a trade matter, the workers’ right to strike was not absolute and had to pause until the court resolved the issue.
