Workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will commence an indefinite strike on December 1, 2024, in protest of the non-implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage.
The decision was conveyed in a letter signed by the FCT NLC Chairman, Stephen Knabayi, and obtained on Saturday.
The directive follows the failure of the Area Council Chairmen to implement the N70,000 new minimum wage, despite receiving a communique from the National Executive Council of the NLC on November 14, 2024.
The NLC has accused the council chairmen of disregarding the welfare of workers and violating labour laws.
In a statement released on November 28, 2024, the NLC expressed frustration over the delayed payment of workers’ entitlements, including outstanding arrears for primary school teachers.
The letter emphasized, “On 14/11/2024, the Area Council Chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory were issued a communique of the National Executive Council meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Friday 8/11/2024. 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. Failure to implement the new national minimum wage is a gross violation of the law and a total disregard for the welfare and well-being of the workers in the Area Councils.”
The letter further highlighted delays in paying workers’ entitlements, including outstanding arrears for primary school teachers. The State Administrative Council of the FCT NLC unanimously resolved to comply with the national directive to embark on industrial action, citing frustration over the persistent non-payment of workers’ dues.
Knabayi stated, “In response to this inaction, the Organised Labour in its State Administrative Council (SEC) Meeting held 12/11/2024, unanimously resolved to adhere strictly to the national directive to embark on an indefinite strike action should any government fail to implement the N70,000.00 (Seventy Thousand Naira) national minimum wage on or before the last day of November 2024.”
“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.
The union has vowed to continue the strike until the government addresses their demands.
