The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration to address the demands of the striking primary school teachers, the area councils’ staff, as well as health workers across the six area councils of the territory.
The FCT NLC chairman, Comrade Stephen Knabayi, told journalists in Abuja on Thursday that the ultimatum followed the resolution of the executives of the joint unions of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the National Association of Health Workers Union (NAHWU) held at the Labour House in Abuja.
The workers threatened to shut down the FCT if their demands were not addressed at the end of the 7-day ultimatum.
Knabayi said the FCT chapter of the NLC had written several letters to seek an audience with the FCT Administration on the strike but none was honoured by those in charge.
He said, “The FCTA’s refusal to act on our letters and demands served on April 24, 2025, was noted with displeasure. Also, the FCTA has not acted on another letter dated May 16, 2025.”
He warned that if the FCT Administration fails to address the demands of the striking workers after the ultimatum, the union would have no option than to shut down the entire FCT.
The state NLC chairman said the union had already written to the FCT Police Commissioner, the Director of the State Security Service, commander of the FCT FRSC and the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on FCT Area councils and auxiliary matters, as well as the FCT controller of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on the workers’ plan.
It would be recalled that primary school teachers, area councils’ workers as well as primary healthcare workers across the six area councils have been on strike for over two months over non-payment of backlog of arrears and other entitlements by the six area councils’ chairmen.
The FCT minister, Nyesom Wike had three weeks ago, while reacting to the ongoing strike, promised to resolve the industrial crisis as soon as possible.
