Labour unions under the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have directed their members working in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to resume work immediately, following a late-night conciliatory meeting with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
The directive was issued in a circular dated February 3, 2026, addressed to all TUC and NLC affiliates, and jointly signed by the Secretary-General of the TUC, Nuhu Toro, and the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, on behalf of JUAC and the workers.
The circular detailed the outcome of the meeting convened at the instance of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi. “All affiliates are hereby informed that a conciliatory meeting was held between the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, at the instance of the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi,” it read.
The meeting reportedly began at 11:45 pm and ended at 3:51 am, after “extensive and frank deliberations.” According to the unions, several resolutions were reached. “All complaints presented by JUAC members were taken one after the other and fully addressed,” the circular said, adding that the Minister assured organised labour of “mutual respect and sustained engagement going forward.”
On issues arising from the recent strike action, the unions said it was agreed that “no worker shall be victimised in any manner” and that “all outstanding cases at the National Industrial Court shall be withdrawn immediately.”
Based on these resolutions, the unions directed all JUAC members and TUC and NLC affiliates working in the FCTA to return to work with immediate effect. The leadership urged strict compliance, saying, “All affiliates are enjoined to comply strictly with this directive in the interest of industrial peace and harmony in good faith.”
The directive follows the suspension of a planned protest by the NLC and TUC in Abuja on Tuesday. A correspondent who visited the FCTA Secretariat at about 8:30 am observed workers trooping into the premises.
The protest had been scheduled in solidarity with FCTA workers, who embarked on an indefinite strike on January 19 over unpaid salaries, promotion arrears, and poor working conditions.
The development comes amid legal and security concerns. On Monday, the National Industrial Court restrained the NLC and TUC from embarking on any protest or industrial action within the FCT, following an ex parte application filed by Wike and the FCTA. The matter has been adjourned to February 10.
Similarly, the FCT Police Command had advised the unions to suspend the protest, citing intelligence reports of potential security threats and possible infiltration by non-state actors.
