The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and leaders of organised labour have reached an agreement to end the strike that disrupted activities across Abuja after a tense, late-night meeting that stretched into the early hours of Tuesday.
The closed-door meeting, convened by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, lasted over three hours and reportedly began shortly before midnight, ending around 3:50 a.m.
Sources familiar with the talks said discussions initially became heated, with shouting among key participants, before Senator Bomoi intervened to restore calm and guide the meeting toward a resolution.
Present at the meeting were Wike; President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo; general secretaries of both labour centres; and other critical stakeholders.
The talks followed labour’s insistence—under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) that it would proceed with a mass protest over unresolved issues affecting Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers, despite police warnings and an interim court order restraining the action.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, said both sides 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He also disclosed that all pending cases filed at the National Industrial Court (NIC) would be withdrawn immediately as part of the settlement.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 raised 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 members to comply with the directive in the interest of industrial peace, bringing an end at least for now to a dispute that had threatened to paralyse governance and essential services in the nation’s capital.