The six Area Council chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have informed the House of Representatives Committee on Area Councils and Auxiliary Matters that their allocations are inadequate to pay the N70,000 national minimum wage demanded by striking workers.
Speaking on behalf of the chairmen during a resolution meeting on Tuesday, Danladi Chiya, Chairman of Kwali Area Council and leader of the FCT chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), stated that financial constraints prevent them from meeting the workers’ demands.
The meeting, attended by five of the six council chairmen and representatives from labour unions—including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and the National Association of Nurses and Midwives (NANAM)—ended without resolution.
A labour union leader present at the meeting disclosed that despite appeals from the committee to suspend the strike, union leaders refused, citing unfulfilled past agreements with the council chairmen.
“The council chairmen, led by Kwali Chairman Danladi Chiya, explained that their monthly allocations are insufficient to implement the new minimum wage,” the source said. Committee members reportedly questioned whether the councils’ allocations, internally generated revenue (IGR), and 10% FCT IRS accruals could cover the wage increase. However, the chairmen maintained that their funds remain inadequate.
The committee also raised concerns over the strike’s impact—disrupted primary education and closed health centres—and pressed the chairmen on whether the N4.1 billion released by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike was intended for wage payments.
Initially denying the funds’ receipt, the chairmen later admitted the money had been released but claimed it was not earmarked for minimum wage implementation.
The committee then resolved to summon the FCT Permanent Secretary of the Treasury for clarification and directed the chairmen to account for the N4.1 billion by Friday, May 2, 2025.
“The committee urged us to suspend the strike for the sake of children’s education and public health, but we no longer trust the council chairmen due to their history of broken promises,” the labour leader said. Union leaders insisted the strike would continue until their demands are met, dismissing the meeting’s outcome as unconvincing.
The committee, however, pledged to prioritize the workers’ welfare upon the House’s resumption from recess. Notably absent from the meeting was Kuje Area Council Chairman Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo, while other council leaders attended.
Meanwhile, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, through Head of Service Grace Adayilo, reiterated that the N4.17 billion disbursed to the councils was specifically for minimum wage and allowance payments.
“I urge the councils to fulfill their obligations to workers,” Wike said, also highlighting ongoing efforts to improve primary school conditions.
NUT FCT Chairman Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas confirmed the strike’s continuation, citing the chairmen’s lack of political will. “Past agreements have been ignored, so we will not back down until our demands are met,” he stated.
The strike, now in its second month, involves primary school teachers, local government employees, and primary healthcare workers demanding the new wage and unpaid entitlements. Last Thursday, workers protested at the FCT Minister’s office, escalating pressure for resolution.
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