Midnight Talks, No More Lockdown: Wike and Labour Finally Call Truce

 After hours of tense, behind-closed-doors negotiations, the FCT minister and organised labour reached a deal that brings the Abuja strike to an end.

Activities across the Federal Capital Territory are set to return to normal after Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and leaders of organised labour reached a late-night agreement to end the ongoing strike.

The breakthrough followed a marathon, closed-door meeting held on Monday night and stretching into the early hours of Tuesday. The talks, convened by Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, lasted more than three hours and ended at about 3:50am.

Sources familiar with the meeting said discussions initially became heated, with raised voices among key actors, before Senator Bomoi stepped in to restore calm and steer the parties toward a resolution.

In attendance were the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo; the general secretaries of both labour centres; senior union officials; and other stakeholders, alongside Minister Wike.

The emergency talks came after organised labour, operating under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), insisted it would proceed with a mass protest over unresolved grievances affecting workers of the FCT Administration. This stance held despite police warnings and an interim court order restraining the planned action.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, said both sides agreed on key confidence-building measures designed to restore trust and stability.

A major outcome of the talks, he said, was a non-victimisation agreement for workers who took part in the strike.

“No worker shall be victimised in any manner arising from the strike action,” Upah stated, 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also disclosed that all pending cases filed at the National Industrial Court (NIC) in relation to the dispute would be withdrawn immediately as part of the settlement.

According to Upah, all grievances raised by JUAC members were thoroughly discussed, while Minister 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 and harmony, effectively drawing the curtain—at least for now—on a dispute that had threatened to disrupt governance and essential services in the nation’s capital.

SOURCE : NaijaRush Assignment Desk