Unpaid arrears: FCT teachers, workers set for 3-day mass protest

The joint union of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and National Association of Health Workers Union (NAHWU) has called on its members across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to start preparing for a three-day mass peaceful protest, beginning from June 23, 2025.

This followed expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT administration to settle the demands of both primary school teachers, area council staff and health workers by the state council of the Nigeria Union of Labour Congress (NLC) in the FCT. The ultimatum elapsed on Wednesday without any response.

An executive member of one of the unions, who spoke with our reporter on the telephone on Wednesday, confirmed the protest, noting that an earlier peaceful protest, scheduled for Thursday, June 19, had been shifted to June 23 to enable workers prepare for the massive demonstration.

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“Consequently, all well-meaning individuals has already been asked by the leadership of the joint union to ensure they get prepared to come out en mass on Monday, June 23, 2025, in order to embark on a three-day peaceful mass protest in Abuja, because of the inhuman treatment meted out to the primary school teachers and health workers in the FCT,” he said.

Recall that the joint union of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Health Workers Union (NAHWU) had, after rising from their joint executive council meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the FCT under the leadership of Comrade Stephen Knabayi last week, issued a seven days’ ultimatum to the FCT minister, Nyemson Wike, to pay workers and teachers or face picketing.

Daily trust had reported that both primary school schools, health centres and area council secretariats across the six area councils of the FCT has been shut down for the past two months over non-payment of arrears, promotion and other entitlements of the workers by the six council chairmen.

Wike, had two weeks ago while reacting to the lingering strike action, promised to settle the demands of the teachers and workers of the six area councils.

The publicity secretary of the FCT NUT, Comrade Ibukun Adekeye, confirmed the three days’ mass protest to our reporter on Wednesday, adding that it would commence on Monday, June 23.