The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has instructed all workers in the six area councils of Abuja to embark on an indefinite strike starting December 1. The directive, issued by the council chairman Knabanyi Adalo, comes in response to unmet demands for the implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage.

Adalo made the announcement through a statement in Abuja on Saturday, referencing a communique from the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on November 8 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The NEC had appealed to area council chairpersons to implement the new minimum wage but reported that no concrete actions were taken to address the demand.

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In a subsequent meeting on November 12, the organised labour State Administrative Council unanimously resolved to uphold the national directive for an indefinite strike. This decision was contingent on the failure of area council authorities to meet the wage implementation deadline by the end of November.

Adalo also highlighted other grievances contributing to the strike action, including delays in payment of workers‘ entitlements and outstanding arrears owed to primary school teachers in the area councils. He described the non-compliance with the national minimum wage as a “gross violation of the law” and a disregard for the welfare of workers.

“All workers in the six area councils in FCT are hereby directed without hesitation to proceed on an indefinite strike beginning from December 1, until further directives,” Adalo stated.