After intense overnight negotiations, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have called off a planned protest and directed workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to go back to work immediately.
Gatekeepers News reports that the unions reached this decision after a long meeting with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and members of the Senate Committee on the FCT, which began late on Monday and continued into the early hours of Tuesday morning.
During the discussions, leaders said all grievances brought by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) were thoroughly reviewed and addressed, and an agreement was reached to withdraw all ongoing cases related to the dispute at the National Industrial Court.
The statement added that Wike offered assurances of mutual respect and sustained engagement with organised labour going forward, and no worker would face victimisation over the recent strike action. Labour leaders said all affiliates of the NLC and TUC working in the Ministry of the FCT must comply with the directive to resume duties in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.
This decision follows an interim order from the National Industrial Court in Abuja that stopped the unions from embarking on a protest scheduled for Tuesday, in response to an application by Wike and the FCTA.
