Normalcy Returns at FCTA Secretariat as Workers Resume After Labour Truce

: FCTA employees return to duty following suspension of planned solidarity strike after agreement with Minister Wike and labour unions.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Secretariat in Abuja has returned to full activity after workers resumed duties following a truce between the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and labour unions, halting a planned protest on Tuesday.

A visit to offices including the Minister’s Block, Treasury Department, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) confirmed that employees had resumed work, carrying out routine operations and public services.

The industrial action, initiated on January 19 by the FCTA workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), stemmed from unresolved welfare issues. Although the National Industrial Court ordered employees to return to work on January 27, union leaders initially resisted the directive, insisting the strike continue.

After several hours of late-night negotiations on Monday, which involved Minister Wike and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi, a truce was reached. Following the agreement, union leaders instructed workers to resume their duties immediately.

Minister Wike, speaking after inspecting ongoing projects in Abuja, emphasized that the resolution was in the public interest. “There is no winner and no loser. It’s for the interest of Abuja to progress,” he said, expressing satisfaction that the unions had acknowledged on-the-ground realities.

A joint circular from the Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, and the Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Benson Upah, confirmed that the minister assured workers of mutual respect and continuous engagement on labour-related matters. The circular also stated that no worker would face retaliation for participating in the strike and that all pending National Industrial Court cases would be withdrawn.

Following the agreement, workers promptly returned to their duties, signaling a restored sense of normalcy across FCTA offices.