THE DEMANDS OF THE FCT WORKERS MUST BE MET IMMEDIATELY!
WE CONDEMN THE AREA COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIONS AND THE FCT MINISTER FOR OWING WORKERS
MASS PROTEST UNTIL THE DEMANDS OF THE WORKERS ARE MET!
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), Abuja Chapter, sternly condemns the refusal of the 6 Area Council chairmen and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to meet the demands of FCT Area council workers who have been on indefinite strike since March, 24, 2025 due to the non-implementation of the new minimum wage. The workers are primary school teachers, primary healthcare personnel and other council staff under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNAM).
This strike action means that access to healthcare services through the primary health centers is unavailable, even though many communities rely on these facilities for healthcare. Additionally, thousands of students are currently out of school due to the government’s refusal to meet the legitimate demands of these workers. Also, the secretariat buildings of Area Councils is are presently non-functional.
It is a clear show of callous negligence that Wike and the six area council chairpersons continue to look the other way while workers suffer and are subjected to penury. Also, many communities are in danger of a health crisis due to the strike, while many students roam the street as doors of schools remain shut. This is pure wickedness and a disregard for the welfare of workers and the people of Abuja.
We in the CDWR demand the immediate meeting of the demands of the striking workers; the implementation of the new minimum wage must commence immediately, and the arrears must also be paid immediately. Sadly, many of these Area Council chairpersons have shifted their attention to the forthcoming area council elections while workers and Abuja people are being neglected.
It is not true that the Area councils and the government are not rich enough to pay the workers. A look at the abysmal condition of the infrastructure of schools and hospitals will reveal a complete neglect by these administrators; one would begin to wonder what these Area council chairpersons are using the allocations for. Also, these Area council chairpersons are earning an outrageous amount as salaries and emoluments, yet they want us to believe there is no money for workers to receive their legitimate pay. If the Area councils are truly poor, why are the chairperson and their cronies receiving humongous salaries and allowances? This is a case of poverty for the workers and opulence for the chairmen.
Also, the FCT minister just splashed N39 billion to repair the International Conference Centre, which has now been renamed after the president who has maintained criminal silence on the plight of workers.
We commend the doggedness of the workers who have been on strike since March 24, after several warning strikes and protest actions. We also support the 3-day mass protest scheduled to commence on Monday. We call on the FCT leadership of NLC, who have stood by the affected FCT workers to mobilise workers in other unions to support the protest action of the striking workers. Such a show of solidarity is needed to put more pressure on the government and ensure the demands of the FCT workers are met. We also believe that the national leaderships of the NLC, NUT, NULGE, NANNAM must openly lend their weight to the struggle and demand of the FCT workers.
The Tinubu government and area council administrations must be forced to fully implement the new minimum wage for the FCT workers and also settle all arrears.
ADARAMOYE MICHAEL LENIN,
CDWR, ABUJA CHAPTER.
(08137051249)
E-mail: [email protected]