How All-night Talks Averted Planned FCT Labour Mass Protest

A major industrial action, which threatened to paralyse activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was averted yesterday morning, following a marathon conciliatory meeting between organised labour and the FCT minister, Barr Nyesom Wike.

The meeting, convened at the instance of the chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, commenced at 11:45 pm on Monday and ended at 3:51 am, after extensive and frank deliberations.

A circular jointly signed by the secretary-general of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade N.A. Toro and acting general secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Benson Upah, detailed the resolutions that led to the suspension of the protest and strike by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) and all its affiliates.

The circular explained that the agreements reached included the full addressing of all complaints presented by JUAC members, an assurance from the minister of “mutual respect and sustained engagement,” a guarantee that no worker would be victimised for participating in the strike, and the immediate withdrawal of all outstanding cases involving the unions at the National Industrial Court (NIC).

“Consequently, all JUAC members and all affiliates of the TUC and NLC working in the Ministry of the FCT (MFCT) are hereby directed to resume work immediately,” the circular stated and urged strict compliance in the interest of industrial peace and harmony in the nation’s capital.

In a separate notice, JUAC confirmed the suspension of yesterday’s protest and thanked its members for their solidarity.

The breakthrough came after weeks of rising tensions between the FCT workers and the administration over unresolved grievances, which prompted the unions to mobilise for a total shutdown.