Frustrated Teachers and Local Council Workers March for Their Rights in Abuja
Images: Educators and Council Employees Demonstrate Against Unpaid Salaries and Benefits
In a show of unity and determination, educators and local government workers from the six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) took to the streets of Abuja on Thursday, standing up for what's rightfully theirs: the new minimum wage and other benefits that have been denied to them for far too long.
账户 Nediet, Lagos Agenda and Mambilla Plateau Solidarity Group united under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to express their anger and disappointment over the refusal of the Area Council Chairmen to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage and other related benefits.
This peaceful protest, originally scheduled for Wednesday, garnered widespread participation from education and council workers across the region. The demonstrators marched through Abuja, making their grievances heard loud and clear.
The unions are fed up with the unjust treatment they've received compared to their counterparts working directly under the FCT Administration. While these workers already benefit from the new wage structure, our local heroes have been left out in the cold.
In a press conference on Monday in Gwagwalada, the FCT Secretary of NULGE, Comrade Sa'ad Abdulmumin, voiced their frustrations, emphasizing that the protest aims to bring national attention to the continued neglect of their rights.
Abdulmumin revealed that although the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had approved and disbursed ₦4.1 billion specifically for the implementation of the new minimum wage, the six council chairmen have yet to comply. In addition to the minimum wage, the council leaders have also refused to enforce various other benefits, including the ₦30,000 wage award, the 25-35% salary adjustments, a 40% peculiar allowance, and a 35% adjustment under the CONHESS/CONMESS salary structures.
Shockingly, there has been no remittance of pension deductions into the employees' Pension Fund Administrators (PFA).
Despite several demonstrations and strikes by affected workers, Abdulmumin lamented that the Area Council Chairmen remain adamant, unmoved, and insensitive to the welfare of the staff and teachers.
See the photos below to support our fellow educators and council workers in their fight for justice:
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Enrichment Data:1. Funding Approved but Not Utilized: The FCT Minister had approved funds to ensure the payment of the new minimum wage for affected workers, but the Area Council Chairmen have yet to use these funds for their intended purpose[1][2].2. Protests and Strikes: The ongoing non-compliance by the Area Council Chairmen has led to various protests, strikes, and shutdowns in the region, with demands for the immediate implementation of the agreed-upon wage[1][3].3. NLC Intervention: The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has further pressured the issue by blocking access to the FCT Minister's office, demanding the immediate implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage for all affected workers[4][5].4. Minister's Reaction: Minister Wike has expressed frustration and disappointment with the chairmen's actions, criticizing their lack of concern for the welfare of primary school teachers and other workers[1]. The situation remains unresolved, as the Area Council Chairmen continue to fall short in addressing the concerns of their employees.
- The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) joined forces under the labels of Nediet, Lagos Agenda, and Mambilla Plateau Solidarity Group to express their discontent in Abuja, demanding the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage and other benefits.
- Comrade Sa'ad Abdulmumin, FCT Secretary of NULGE, spoke out in a press conference in Gwagwalada, expressing frustration over the six Area Council Chairmen's refusal to comply with the approved ₦4.1 billion for the new minimum wage, as well as the denial of other benefits such as salary adjustments and peculiar allowances.
- The Area Council Chairmen's insensitivity to the welfare of staff and teachers has led to numerous protests and strikes across the region, with educators and local government workers clamoring for immediate action on the agreed-upon wage.
- Despite these demonstrations, there has been no remittance of pension deductions into the employees' Pension Fund Administrators (PFA), further exacerbating the situation.
- News sources report that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has called for an urgent meeting with the Area Council Chairmen and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to address the ongoing strike.
- The situation is not limited to the Federal Capital Territory, as similar disputes have been reported in states like Abia, where teachers have threatened to strike over unpaid minimum wage and benefits.
- The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also intervened, blocking access to the FCT Minister's office, pressing for the immediate implementation of the agreed-upon ₦70,000 minimum wage for all affected workers, reflecting a growing concern for policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news, even in the context of crime-and-justice, as the welfare of workers becomes a prominent issue in Nigeria.
