By Sarah NEGEDU
While workers around the globe gathered to celebrate the 2025 May Day, local government employees in Nigeria’s capital had little or no reason to celebrate given the protracted welfare battle between them and their employers.
Primary school teachers and primary health workers across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory had on March 24, 2025, resumed their industrial action strike following the non-payment of entitlements and non-implementation of the new minimum wage.
Though stakeholders including the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, have tried to intervene by offering to pay part of the arrears, the union’s leadership had concerns on modalities for the payment.
They demanded that the treasury department of the FCTA should pay the money directly to the accounts of the LEAs across the six area councils.
Wike approves N4bn for arrears
The minister earlier in April approved the sum of N4 billion for the implementation of the minimum wage, backlogs of arrears and other allowances for the striking primary school teachers and staff of the six area councils.
However, the FCT chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, claimed the money was yet to hit the accounts of the area councils.
Consequently, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and health workers staged a protest at the FCTA Secretariat on April 24 to show their displeasure.
Meeting stalled
A recent meeting between the FCT Labour and the House Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters also ended in deadlock as the NUT and labour leaders viewed the outcome of the meeting as not convincing enough for any serious consideration.
Reports from the meetings suggest the workers were standing their ground due to the numerous failed promises and agreements.
An update shared by the FCT labour office disclosed that the council chairmen lamented the inadequacy of their allocation to implement the new minimum wage, however the committee asked if their allocation, the IGR, including the 10% FCT IRS accruals, could not settle the new wage.
The council chairmen had earlier claimed that FCT LEA teachers were not supposed to be beneficiaries of the 40% peculiar allowance since they are not under the FCTA administration and so should not enjoy full federal salary scale.
The update sent by the state Secretary of the union also highlighted the intrigues around the N4.1 billion intervention by the FCT Minister.
It stated that, “After the presentation of Labour, they were asked if the Hon Minister, FCT, intervened on the issue through the release of over N4.1 billion. After the initial denial, they reluctantly accepted that the said money was released to them but not meant for the implementation of the New Minimum Wage.
“Given the denial, the committee resolved to invite the FCT Permanent Secretary of the Treasury for clarification, while the Council Chairmen were asked to render an account of what they did with the over #4.1 billion before Friday, 2/5/25.”
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had during the 2025 International Labour Day celebration held at the Eagle Square, called on Area Councils to immediately pay the new minimum wage and arrears to their staff.
The minister who disclosed that he has since approved the release of the N41billion intervention fund, said, “I had approved the release of N4.17 billion to the six Area Councils for wage payment. I now urge them to do the needful and pay workers their due.”
He also noted ongoing efforts to improve the working conditions of Area Council teachers, including school renovations and enhanced provision of learning materials.
Area councils commit to resolution
Chairman of Abaji, Abubakar Abdullahi, had in a message to workers on May Day, assured NUT and NULGE that his administration will do everything possible to see that the prolong industrial action comes to an end.
He said, “My Administration will continue to accord top priority to workers’ welfare in view of their invaluable contributions to the development of the Abaji Area Council and FCT.”
He also assured that, “the rights of workers will be duly guaranteed and complied with, adding that, no worker will be victimised on account of expressing himself or herself either in demanding for their rights or seeking legal redress.”
