The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has drawn a red line, once President Bola Tinubu wraps up his July 3 project inaugurations in Abuja, the city will face a complete shutdown if the prolonged grievances of workers across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) continue to be ignored.
For months, local government workers, teachers, and health officials in the six area councils of the FCT have been having issues authorities over unpaid entitlements and the suspension of a long-overdue wage increase. Now, patience has run out.
“We are waiting for it to end and we will come together to step up our planned action,” said Dr Stephen Knabayi, chairman of the FCT chapter of the NLC. “We are not happy and it is not going to be a small thing if they don’t do the needful.”
Primary schools are shut, health centres are under lock and the councils’ secretariats are empty. Despite the magnitude of the disruption, the authorities appear unmoved.
The core of the issue includes the abrupt suspension of the ₦70,000 minimum wage that was paid only once in May, the non-implementation of agreed 25% and 35% salary increases, and a ₦35,000 wage award promised to cushion economic pressures.
A seven-day ultimatum issued on June 13 by a coalition of unions under the NLC, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), National Association of Health Workers, and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, expired on June 20 with no action from the FCT Administration.
Rather than act immediately, the unions decided to hold off until the president’s project ceremonies were concluded.
But that grace period is ending. Knabayi warned that, “Members of the union will take over the streets of Abuja as soon as Tinubu concludes the inaugurations.”
There’s also frustration at the area council chairmen, who labour leaders accuse of prioritising early preparations for the 2026 elections over the welfare of workers. “The funds being expended will be enough to settle all the workers’ outstanding entitlements,” Knabayi alleged.
Efforts by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to end the crisis, including the release of ₦4.1 billion to the councils, have failed to yield results. Wike has repeatedly pointed out that primary school teachers and healthcare workers fall under the jurisdiction of the local councils, not the central FCT Administration.
Despite Wike’s intervention, the NUT insists the strike will continue. “We will not resume work until all our demands are fully met,” said NUT Chairman in the FCT, Abdullahi Shafa, during a protest in April.
On their part, council chairmen say they’re willing to negotiate. At a press conference on May 13, John Gabaya, Secretary of the FCT chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, made a direct appeal: “We urge the primary school teachers and other council workers to call off their ongoing strike. The appeal became necessary for the interest of the pupils while negotiation continues.”
But that appeal appears to have fallen flat. With no resolution in sight and July 3 approaching, the Congress is preparing to unleash what may become the largest labour action in the capital in years.
For now, all eyes are on Abuja. Once the case of project inaugurations fades, the confrontation over unpaid wages and unfulfilled promises may well bring the city to a standstill.
