The leadership of organised labour and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have reached a consensus over the dispute that disrupted activities in Abuja in recent days.
The truce was achieved after a marathon meeting convened by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, which lasted more than three hours.
According to Daily Trust, journalists who monitored the meeting gathered that discussions initially began on a tense note, with a shouting match among key actors before calm was restored.
It was learnt that Senator Bomoi intervened and prevailed on both parties to sheath their swords and engage constructively.
The meeting, which commenced a few minutes before 12:00 am, ended at about 3:50 am on Tuesday.
Present at the meeting were Wike, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo, as well as the scribes of both labour centres and other key stakeholders.
Bellnews recalls that the organised labour, comprising the NLC and TUC, had earlier insisted there would be no going back on the planned mass protest to press home the demands of workers in the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
The police authorities in the FCT had cautioned labour to reschedule the protest in the “interest of safety,” while the minister also obtained an interim court order restraining both labour centres from embarking on the action.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, said it was agreed that no worker would be victimised as a result of the industrial action.
Upah, who was flanked by the General Secretary of the TUC, Nuhu Toro, and other labour leaders, disclosed that all pending cases at the National Industrial Court would be withdrawn immediately.
He said, “All affiliates are hereby informed that a conciliatory meeting was held between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, at the instance of the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi.
“At the conclusion of the meeting, the following resolutions were reached: All complaints presented by JUAC members were taken one after the other and fully addressed.
“The Honourable Minister assured organised labour of mutual respect and sustained engagement going forward.”
Upah announced that workers in the FCT had been directed to resume duties immediately.
“Consequently, all JUAC members and all affiliates of the TUC and NLC working in the Ministry of the FCT are hereby directed to resume work immediately,” he said.
He further urged strict compliance with the directive.
“All affiliates are enjoined to comply strictly with this directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony, in good faith,” he added.