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Labour unions have instructed their members and affiliates employed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to resume work immediately.
The directive was issued in a joint circular on Tuesday, February 3, by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), following a lengthy conciliatory meeting with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Signed by TUC Secretary General N. A. Toro and NLC Acting General Secretary Benson Upah, the circular directed all Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) members and TUC and NLC affiliates in the FCT Ministry to return to work immediately, urging strict compliance in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.
The unions said the breakthrough followed intervention by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Mohammed Bomoi, during talks addressing grievances that had paralysed activities at the FCTA secretariat since January 19.
According to the unions, all issues raised by JUAC were resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, with Wike assuring organised labour of mutual respect and continued engagement to maintain a harmonious working relationship.
Resolutions included guarantees that no worker would face victimisation for participating in the industrial action and that all pending National Industrial Court (NIC) cases related to the dispute would be withdrawn immediately.
JUAC members had gone on strike over issues including non-remittance of statutory deductions, delays in promotion arrears, and concerns over the promotion exercise.
The strike shut down departments and agencies of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), prompting Wike to take legal action.
On January 27, the NIC ordered the suspension of the strike, ruling that while the dispute qualified as a trade issue, the right to strike was not absolute once the matter was before the court.
Despite this and an FCTA directive to resume work, the NLC initially advised members to continue the industrial action.
On Monday, the NIC issued an interim order restraining the NLC, TUC, and others from holding a protest scheduled for February 3, 2026. Justice Emmanuel Sublim granted the order following an ex parte application by Wike and the FCTA, pending a full hearing.
The court also directed security agencies to prevent any breakdown of law and order after reports circulated of mobilisation messages calling for the protest among union members.
