By Yinka Giwa
The leadership of organised labour and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have resolved the dispute that disrupted activities in Abuja in recent days, following a marathon reconciliation meeting that stretched deep into the night.
The breakthrough came after a more than three-hour meeting convened by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi. Sources said tensions were high at the outset, with heated exchanges and raised voices among key actors, before the lawmaker intervened to calm frayed nerves and steer discussions toward compromise.
The meeting, which began shortly before midnight, ended at about 3:50am on Tuesday. Present were Wike, the Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, as well as the general secretaries of both labour centres and other stakeholders.
Organised labour, comprising the NLC and TUC, had earlier insisted there would be no retreat from its planned mass protest to press the demands of workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). Police authorities had urged labour to reschedule the action in the interest of public safety, while the FCT minister secured an interim court order restraining the unions from proceeding with the protest.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, said both sides reached a consensus that no worker would be victimised as a result of the strike action.
Upah, who was flanked by TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, and other labour leaders, also disclosed that all outstanding cases at the National Industrial Court would be withdrawn with immediate effect.
He explained that the conciliatory meeting addressed all grievances raised by members of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), adding that the minister assured organised labour of mutual respect and sustained engagement going forward.
“All complaints presented by JUAC members were taken one after the other and fully addressed,” Upah said, noting that the resolutions were reached in good faith to restore industrial harmony.
He announced that workers in the FCT had been directed to resume duties immediately, urging all affiliates of the NLC and TUC within the Ministry of the FCT to comply strictly with the directive in the interest of peace and stability in the nation’s capital.