The ongoing strike led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has entered its 11th day, with negotiations between labour unions and Area Council Chairmen deadlocked over the timeline for implementing the N70,000 minimum wage.
The standoff stems from a disagreement on when to commence payment. The Area Council Chairmen proposed January 2025, but unions insist on December 2024. Speaking on Tuesday, the FCT Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Abdullahi Kabir, highlighted the union’s position.
“The Council Chairmen are appealing for implementation in January, but the union demands December,” Kabir said. “If they start in January, the arrears will be five months. Starting in December reduces it to four months.”
Kabir also underscored other unresolved grievances, including disparities in allowances between local government workers and Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) staff.
“There are peculiar allowances that FCTA staff receive, but local government workers do not, despite facing the same cost of living,” Kabir noted. “Additionally, the 25% CONHESS and CONMESS allowances and a wage award remain unimplemented.”
He further stressed the FCT’s unique governance structure, where the FCT Minister represents President Bola Tinubu, effectively serving as the territory’s governor.
“The FCT is not like other states. We should benefit from these allowances and wage awards just like others under the presidency,” Kabir added.
Kabir reaffirmed that the strike would persist until a formal agreement is reached and communicated by the NLC.
“The strike is ongoing until the NLC provides a directive based on an agreement or MoU,” he stated.
Efforts to reach the FCT NLC Chairman, Stephen Knabayi, for comments were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages at the time of this report.
The prolonged strike continues to disrupt activities across the FCT, with no resolution in sight as the deadlock over the minimum wage implementation timeline persists.
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