The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to shut down Abuja after President Bola Tinubu concludes the ongoing project inaugurations on July 3.
NLC FCT Chairman, Dr Stephen Knabayi, made this known on Thursday in Abuja. He said the protest is aimed at forcing the FCT Administration to address the months-long strike by area council workers, including teachers and health staff.
Primary schools, health centres, and local government secretariats across the six area councils have been shut for months due to the strike.
The workers are demanding full implementation of the minimum wage, payment of a 40% Peculiar Allowance, 25% and 35% salary increases, and a N35,000 wage award, among other benefits.
Knabayi said the union had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration on June 13, which expired on June 20. However, they delayed action to allow President Tinubu complete his scheduled project inaugurations.
“By July 3, we will take over the streets of Abuja. We had to hold back for the President’s programmes, but once they’re done, the shutdown begins,” he said.
He added that the NLC has already informed security agencies and the FCT Administration of their planned protest.
According to him, the area council chairmen have done little to resolve the issues despite several efforts by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, including the release of N4.1 billion to support salary payments.
Knabayi also alleged that the council chairmen were focusing more on the upcoming February 2026 FCT Area Council elections than the welfare of workers, saying the money being spent on politics could easily settle outstanding entitlements.
He called on Minister Wike to take stronger steps to ensure the council chairmen pay workers their dues.
Earlier, the FCT branch of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) confirmed that Wike had tried to resolve the crisis, including the financial support. Still, the strike continues due to lack of action from the council chairmen.
Local government leaders have appealed to teachers to return to the classrooms for the sake of students while talks continue, but the unions insist that only concrete action will end the strike.
