By Kingsley Igweledeoha
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to shut down the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over the continued strike by area council workers.
The FCT NLC Chairman, Comrade Stephen Knabayi, disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Abuja on Thursday. He stated that the shutdown would commence immediately after President Bola Tinubu concludes the inauguration of FCT projects on July 3.
Knabayi said the move was to draw urgent attention to the prolonged strike action by primary school teachers, health workers, and other area council staff over the non-payment of minimum wage and a 40% peculiar allowance. He described the situation as “very unfortunate,” lamenting that primary health care centres remain shut, schools closed, and the six area council secretariats deserted.
The NLC had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration on June 13 to address the workers’ grievances. The ultimatum, issued after a joint resolution by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and the National Association of Health Workers, expired on June 20 without a response.
“We had to extend the ultimatum because of Tinubu’s movements to inaugurate FCT projects. But once the ceremony ends on July 3, we will take to the streets,” Knabayi warned.
He added that security agencies and the FCT Administration had already been notified of the impending protest, which he described as the union’s last resort to press home its demands.
