While the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched projects worth over ₦100 billion in the past two weeks, tens of thousands of public primary school pupils have lost an entire academic term—more than 500 hours of learning—due to an ongoing strike by teachers owed billions in salary arrears.
Compounding the crisis, local government employees and primary healthcare workers across the six area councils have also halted work over unpaid wages totaling less than ₦10 billion.
A source familiar with the matter expressed dismay, particularly noting that the affected area councils are led by indigenous chairmen. “It’s painful that these leaders, who are also from the communities, claim they lack funds to pay fellow indigenes,” the source said. “Even when the FCT Minister released ₦4 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR) to support them, they claimed other obligations had to be met.”
The source added that another round of IGR disbursement is due soon, and the Minister is reportedly preparing to intervene again. However, some observers argue that the Minister should not be absolved of blame, as the financial mismanagement persists under his watch.
Meanwhile, the FCT chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is gearing up for a mass protest to shut down Abuja following the conclusion of President Bola Tinubu’s project inaugurations on July 3.
In an interview on Thursday, NLC FCT Chairman, Dr. Stephen Knabayi, said the protest aims to highlight the prolonged strike by area council workers, including primary school teachers and healthcare staff.
“For months, primary healthcare centres have remained shut, schools deserted, and council secretariats abandoned,” Knabayi said. Workers are demanding unpaid minimum wage, a 40% Peculiar Allowance, salary increases of 25% and 35%, and the ₦35,000 wage award.
Describing the situation as “deeply unfortunate,” Knabayi said the union issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCTA on June 13 to address the issues. That deadline expired on June 20 without any government action.
“We held back because of the president’s schedule for inaugurations, but once those conclude, we will hit the streets,” Knabayi warned. “We’ve already notified the FCTA and security agencies.”
He further revealed that although the new ₦70,000 minimum wage was briefly implemented in May, it was inexplicably halted in June.
“This strike is a last resort. But if they don’t act, the consequences will be significant,” he said, alleging that area council chairmen are instead prioritizing campaign spending ahead of the February 2026 council elections.
Knabayi urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to compel council chairmen to resolve the wage crisis. The Minister had previously intervened by releasing ₦4.1 billion to the councils to help settle wage arrears, while stressing that primary school teachers and healthcare workers fall under the jurisdiction of the area councils—not the FCTA.
On April 24, FCT NUT Chairman Abdullahi Shafa acknowledged Wike’s support and the ₦4.1 billion disbursement during a protest by striking teachers.
In a press conference on May 13, the area council chairmen appealed to the teachers and council workers to end the strike in the interest of students. John Gabaya, Secretary of the FCT Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, urged the teachers to return to the classrooms while negotiations continue.
