Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to shut down the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following the conclusion of President Bola Tinubu’s project inaugurations scheduled for July 3, 2025.
This warning was issued by Stephen Knabayi, Chairman of the NLC FCT Chapter, during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
Knabayi said the union’s planned action is aimed at drawing urgent attention to the prolonged strike by area council workers, including primary school teachers and health workers, over non-payment of the national minimum wage and 40% peculiar allowance.
“Primary health care centres are locked, schools are shut, and the six area council secretariats have been abandoned. This situation is very unfortunate,” Knabayi lamented.
He explained that the union had initially issued a seven-day ultimatum on June 13, which expired on June 20 without any response from the FCT Administration. However, the union paused its planned protest to allow for the smooth conduct of President Tinubu’s inauguration activities marking his second year in office.
“We had to extend the ultimatum because of Tinubu’s movements to inaugurate the FCT-executed projects,” Knabayi stated.
“But once those ceremonies are over, we will take to the streets.”
He affirmed that the NLC has already notified both the FCT administration and security agencies about the planned action, emphasizing it as a last resort to compel the government to meet the demands of the aggrieved workers.
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