The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that it will shut down Abuja after July 3 if authorities fail to resolve ongoing industrial disputes affecting area council workers.
The Chairman of the FCT NLC, Dr. Stephen Knabayi, issued the warning during an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, stating that the action is aimed at compelling the FCT Administration to address welfare concerns raised by striking workers.
The union said it had deliberately held back from action to allow President Bola Tinubu to conclude the series of project inaugurations in Abuja, which are scheduled to end on July 3, marking his second year in office.
“We had to extend the ultimatum because of Tinubu’s movements to inaugurate the FCT-executed project,” Knabayi said.
“Members of the union will take over the streets of Abuja as soon as Tinubu concludes the inauguration, hopefully on July 3. We are waiting for it to end, and we will come together to step up our planned action.”
The FCT has witnessed months of industrial unrest in its six area councils, with primary health centres shut down and public school teachers away from classrooms. Offices in the secretariats have also remained largely abandoned due to the strike action.
The disputes stem from unpaid arrears of the national minimum wage, the non-payment of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance, and the failure to implement previously agreed salary increases of 25 per cent and 35 per cent. Workers are also demanding the implementation of the N35,000 wage award promised by the Federal Government.
Knabayi described the state of affairs as unacceptable, stating that local council chairmen had shown little willingness to resolve the matter despite several appeals and interventions.
“This is very unfortunate. Like, you know, a strike or protest is always the last option, but we were left with no other option. We are not happy, and it is not going to be a small thing if they don’t do the needful”, he said.
According to him, the NLC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, and the National Association of Health Workers, had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration on June 13.
That ultimatum expired on June 20 with no action taken by the government, prompting the labour unions to begin mobilisation for a large-scale protest.
“We had to delay our action out of respect for the ongoing inauguration activities. But once those are over, we will act,” Knabayi said.
The union leader also disclosed that both the FCT Administration and relevant security agencies have been duly notified of the planned demonstration, which, he said, would serve as a final warning to the authorities.
He further lamented the suspension of the N70,000 minimum wage implementation in the area councils, which, he noted, was only introduced in May before being halted the following month without explanation.
“It is very unfortunate that up to this moment nothing has been done to address the lingering welfare crises in the area councils,” he concluded.
The Punch
