The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have directed all workers under the payroll of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to resume work with immediate effect, effectively bringing the prolonged strike action to an end.
The directive was issued in a joint circular released on Tuesday following a marathon conciliatory meeting between organised labour and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The circular was jointly signed by the TUC Secretary-General, N.A. Toro, and the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah.
“Consequently, all members of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) and all affiliates of the TUC and NLC working in the Ministry of the FCT (MFCT) are hereby directed to resume work immediately,” the circular stated.
“All affiliates are enjoined to comply strictly with this directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony, in good faith.”
According to the unions, the breakthrough was achieved through the intervention of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, who brokered the meeting. The engagement reportedly addressed all grievances that had paralysed activities at the FCTA Secretariat since January 19.
Organised labour disclosed that all complaints raised by JUAC were “fully addressed to the satisfaction of all parties,” with Minister Wike assuring workers of mutual respect and sustained engagement to ensure a harmonious working relationship going forward.
Key resolutions reached at the meeting include assurances that no worker would be victimised for participating in the industrial action and that all outstanding cases relating to the dispute at the National Industrial Court (NIC) would be withdrawn by the parties with immediate effect.
The strike, embarked upon by workers under the JUAC umbrella, was triggered by issues including the non-remittance of statutory deductions such as pension and National Housing Fund contributions, delays in the payment of promotion arrears, and concerns over the conduct of the promotion exercise.
The industrial action had led to a complete shutdown of operations across departments and agencies of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), prompting the FCT Administration to seek legal redress.
On January 27, the National Industrial Court ordered the suspension of the strike, ruling that although the matter constituted a trade dispute, the workers’ right to strike was not absolute once the issue had been brought before the court.
Despite the court’s directive and a subsequent instruction by the FCTA for workers to resume duties, the NLC had earlier advised its members to continue the strike.
However, tensions escalated further on Monday when the NIC issued an interim order restraining the NLC, TUC, and three other parties from staging a planned protest on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
Justice Emmanuel Sublim granted the order following an ex parte application filed by the FCTA and Minister Wike, restraining the unions from embarking on any strike or protest pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
The court also directed security agencies to ensure the maintenance of law and order, citing intelligence reports of mobilisation messages allegedly circulated ahead of the planned protest.
With the latest agreement reached, organised labour says the dispute has now been resolved, paving the way for the restoration of normal activities across the FCT civil service.
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