The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and organised labour unions have reached a late-night agreement that brought an end to the strike action across the nation’s capital.
The truce was sealed in the early hours of Tuesday after prolonged negotiations that lasted over three hours and concluded at about 3:50am.
The talks were facilitated by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, and were attended by leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, said the resolution followed detailed deliberations on the grievances raised by workers.
Upah disclosed that key agreements reached included a guarantee that no worker would face sanctions for taking part in the strike, the immediate withdrawal of all matters pending before the National Industrial Court, and a pledge by the FCT Minister to sustain dialogue and mutual respect with organised labour.
He noted that all issues tabled by the Joint Unions Action Committee were exhaustively discussed and amicably resolved during the meeting.
According to him, Wike assured labour leaders of continued engagement to prevent a breakdown of industrial relations in the future.
Following the agreement, workers under the Joint Unions Action Committee, as well as affiliates of the NLC and TUC within the FCT Administration, were directed to resume work with immediate effect.
Upah urged all unions to comply with the directive in good faith, stressing the need to restore industrial harmony.
The industrial action, which had paralysed activities in parts of Abuja, stemmed from unresolved labour-related concerns within the FCT Administration.
The strike was eventually halted after the intervention of the Senate Committee on the FCT, despite earlier warnings by the police over security implications and a court order restraining the protest.