Labour unions have directed their members and affiliates under the payroll of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to resume work with immediate effect, bringing an end to weeks of industrial action that paralysed activities in the nation’s capital.
The directive was contained in a joint circular issued on Tuesday by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) following a marathon conciliatory meeting between the unions and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“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,” the circular read in part.
The statement, jointly signed by TUC Secretary General, N.A. Toro, and NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, urged all affiliates to comply strictly with the directive “in the interest of industrial peace and harmony, in good faith.”
According to the unions, the breakthrough meeting was brokered by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi. During the meeting, grievances that had grounded activities at the FCTA secretariat since January 19 were extensively discussed.
The labour centres said all complaints raised by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) were fully “addressed to the satisfaction of all parties involved,” with the FCT Minister assuring organised labour of mutual respect and sustained engagement to ensure a harmonious working relationship.
Among the resolutions reached was an agreement that no worker would be victimised for participating in the industrial action. The parties also resolved that all outstanding cases at the National Industrial Court (NIC) relating to the dispute would be withdrawn immediately.
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 promotion exercises.
The industrial action led to the shutdown of activities across departments and agencies of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), prompting the FCT Minister to seek legal redress against the unions.
On January 27, the National Industrial Court ordered the workers to suspend the strike, ruling that while the matter constituted a trade dispute, the right to strike was not absolute once the issue had been brought before the court.
Despite the ruling, the NLC had earlier directed its members to continue with the industrial action, even after the FCTA asked workers to resume duties.
On Monday, the NIC further issued an interim order restraining the NLC, TUC, and three other parties from embarking on a planned protest scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim, ruling on an ex parte application filed by Wike and the FCTA, restrained the respondents and their agents from any form of strike or protest pending the hearing of a motion on notice. He also directed security agencies to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.
The ex parte application, filed by counsel to the FCTA, Ogwu Onoja, informed the court that mobilisation messages had been circulated for a mass protest, despite subsisting court orders.
With the latest directive from organised labour, activities are expected to resume fully across FCTA departments and agencies.
