FCT Labour Unions Suspend Strike, Direct Workers To Resume Immediately

Labour unions under the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have directed their members and affiliates working under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to resume work immediately, following the resolution of a protracted industrial dispute.

The directive was contained in a joint circular issued on Tuesday and signed by TUC Secretary General, N.A. Toro, and NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah.

The circular reads in part, “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.

“All affiliates are enjoined to comply strictly with this directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony, in good faith.”

The resolution followed a marathon conciliatory meeting between the unions and the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, reportedly brokered by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi.

The meeting brought an end to the industrial action spearheaded by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), which had crippled operations at the FCTA secretariat since January 19.

According to the unions, all grievances were “fully addressed to the satisfaction of all parties involved,” with Wike assuring organised labour of “mutual respect and sustained engagement” to ensure harmony in the civil service.

Among the resolutions reached were that no worker will be victimised for participating in the strike, all pending cases at the National Industrial Court (NIC) related to the dispute will be withdrawn immediately, and sustained dialogue between organised labour and the FCTA going forward.

The industrial action was triggered by multiple issues, including non-remittance of statutory deductions such as pensions and housing fund contributions, delayed payment of promotion arrears, and failure to conduct promotion exercises and continued service of retired directors and permanent staff.

The resolution came a day after the National Industrial Court (NIC) issued an interim order restraining the NLC, TUC, and three others from embarking on further strike or protest actions.

Justice Emmanuel Sublim, ruling on an ex parte application filed by FCTA and Minister Nyesom Wike, directed the 1st to 5th respondents and their agents to suspend all planned industrial action pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

The court also instructed the 5th to 9th defendants (security agencies) to ensure law and order is maintained.

The application, filed by Ogwu Onoja (SAN) on behalf of Wike and the FCTA, referenced a mobilisation message by the FCT NLC council chair for a planned protest on February 3.