NLC orders indefinite strike over minimum wage in FCT
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed workers in the six area councils of the FCT to embark on an indefinite strike from Sunday, December 1, 2024. The directive will remain in effect until further notice.
This decision was conveyed in a letter signed by the FCT NLC Council Chairman, Stephen Knabayi, and obtained by our correspondent on Saturday.
The strike action is part of a broader industrial action declared by the NLC in 14 states and the FCT over the failure to implement the N70,000 minimum wage, which the union describes as a legal entitlement.
In the letter, Knabayi criticized the Area Council Chairmen for failing to act on the demand for the implementation of the minimum wage. He noted that the council leaders had received a communique from the NLC’s National Executive Council on November 14, 2024, but failed to respond.
He described the non-implementation of the minimum wage as a “gross violation of the law” and evidence of disregard for workers’ welfare.
Knabayi also highlighted additional grievances, including delays in paying workers’ entitlements and outstanding arrears owed to primary school teachers across the area councils.
“Unfortunately, the Council Chairmen have blatantly refused to respond to the demand for implementation of the new national minimum wage to the workers in their respective area councils,” the letter stated.
“The SEC also noted with deep frustration the persistent delay and outright refusal by the Area Councils to pay some pending entitlements to the workers, including the outstanding arrears of the primary school teachers in their respective Area Councils.”
Knabayi emphasized that the State Administrative Council of the NLC had unanimously resolved to enforce the national directive to strike if the minimum wage was not implemented by the end of November.
“All the workers in the six area councils in FCT are hereby issued a marching order without hesitation to proceed on an indefinite strike action beginning from the 1st day of December 2024 until further directives are issued,” the letter concluded.
