A nonviolent demonstration was held in Abuja on Thursday by primary school teachers and local government employees from the six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to protest the ongoing nonpayment of their rights and the recently authorized minimum wage.
The protesters marched through the streets, united under the banners of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), to voice their displeasure with the Area Council Chairmen’s failure to enact the ₦70,000 minimum salary and other associated perks.
Across all six Area Councils, education and council employees participated widely in the long-awaited demonstration, which was first scheduled for Wednesday.
In contrast to their direct colleagues who work for the FCT Administration and are already reaping the benefits of the new wage structure, the unions voiced their displeasure with what they called unfair treatment.
NULGE FCT Secretary Comrade Sa’ad Abdulmumin told reporters in Gwagwalada on Monday that the nonviolent demonstration was a purposeful attempt to draw national attention to the ongoing disregard for their rights.
Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, sanctioned and disbursed ₦4.1 billion expressly for the implementation of the new minimum wage, but the six council chairmen have not complied, Abdulmumin emphasized.
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The council leaders had refused to implement the ₦30,000 wage award, the 25–35% pay adjustments, a 40% unique allowance, and a 35% adjustment under the CONHESS/CONMESS compensation structures, he added, in addition to the minimum wage.
The pension deductions have also not been remitted to the employees’ Pension Fund Administrators (PFA).
“Adamant, unmoved, and insensitive” to the wellbeing of the staff and teachers, Abdulmumin bemoaned the Area Council Chairmen’s lack of readiness to address the issues despite multiple industrial strikes by the impacted workers.
