Dare Babalola
The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have suspended their planned protest in the Federal Capital Territory and instructed workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration to return to their duties with immediate effect.
The directive followed an overnight engagement involving labour leaders, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and members of the Senate Committee on the FCT.
The meeting, which started late on Monday, ended in the early hours of Tuesday. It ended with an agreement that led to the unions deciding to stop their protest and resume normal work in FCTA offices.
In a statement released after the meeting, the unions said complaints of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) were fully addressed during the meeting.
The statement was jointly signed by Nuru Toro, TUC secretary-general, and Benson Upah, acting NLC general secretary.
The unions said it was agreed that all cases in the national industrial court pertaining to the dispute should be withdrawn.
The statement reads, “The honourable Minister assured Organised Labour of mutual respect and sustained engagement going forward.
“It was agreed that, arising from the strike action, no worker shall be victimised in any manner.
“All outstanding cases at the National Industrial Court (NIC) shall be withdrawn immediately.
“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.
“All affiliates are enjoined to comply strictly with this directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony in good faith.”
