Abuja, June 26, 2025 – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to shut down operations across Abuja after President Bola Tinubu concludes his ongoing project inaugurations scheduled to end on July 3, 2025.
The FCT NLC Chairman, Dr. Stephen Knabayi, disclosed the planned mass action during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday. He said the strike was aimed at compelling the FCT Administration to urgently address the prolonged grievances of area council workers who have been on strike for months.
According to Knabayi, primary health care centres remain closed, primary school teachers are off duty, and the six area councils’ secretariats have been deserted as workers continue to protest the non-payment of minimum wage, 40% peculiar allowance, and other withheld entitlements.
Other outstanding issues include:
Non-implementation of 25% and 35% salary adjustments
Failure to pay the N35,000 wage award
Delays in settling other agreed benefits
The NLC chairman reminded the public that a seven-day ultimatum was issued on June 13 by the joint union executives of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and the National Association of Health Workers. However, that ultimatum expired on June 20, and no action was taken by the FCT Administration.
“We have exhausted all diplomatic avenues. The silence from the area council chairmen and the FCT Administration is unacceptable. The shutdown will proceed after the president’s project inaugurations,” Knabayi stated.
He described the situation as “very unfortunate,” noting that government inaction has left the unions with no other alternative but to escalate their demands through mass protest and service disruption in the FCT.
The union is urging the FCT Administration to act swiftly to avoid a total breakdown of essential services in the nation’s capital.
