The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have thrown their weight behind workers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging them to defend their rights with courage and dignity amid an ongoing dispute with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the two labour centres expressed solidarity with the workers, accusing the FCT minister of subjecting them to shabby treatment. The unions said they were particularly disturbed by what they described as intimidation, humiliation, insults, and harassment allegedly directed at the workers following a recent ruling by the National Industrial Court.
According to the statement, the court’s decision alone was already a heavy burden on the workers, and the addition of threats and coercive tactics by the minister was unacceptable. The organised labour bodies said they had expected Wike to use the court ruling as an opportunity to engage workers constructively and seek an amicable resolution, but instead accused him of adopting a confrontational posture.
The NLC and TUC criticised what they termed a one-sided ruling by the Abuja National Industrial Court, alleging it was intended to weaken the strike and suppress workers’ demands. They stressed that workers could not be reduced to “perpetual slaves” in their own country and reaffirmed their commitment to the rule of law, regardless of the status of those involved in the dispute.
The labour centres further clarified that the interlocutory injunction obtained by the minister was directed at individual union leaders and not the striking unions themselves. On that basis, they declared that the strike remains in force.
They urged FCT workers to maintain high morale despite ongoing pressures, reaffirming that organised labour would not stand by while workers’ rights are trampled upon.
