CDWR Blasts Wike As FCT Strike Cripples Schools, Clinics, Council Offices
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has condemned FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the six Area Council Chairmen over their failure to address the demands of striking workers in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement released by its Abuja coordinator, Adaramoye Michael Lenin, CDWR expressed solidarity with public primary school teachers, health workers, and local government staff, who have been on indefinite strike since March 24, 2025.
The workers, under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), are demanding immediate implementation of the new minimum wage and payment of outstanding arrears.
“This strike action means that access to healthcare services through the primary health centres is unavailable, even though many communities rely on these facilities for healthcare,” Lenin stated.
“It is a clear show of callous negligence that Wike and the six area council chairpersons continue to look the other way while workers suffer and are subjected to penury.”
The group said the prolonged strike has paralysed critical services, leaving communities without healthcare and thousands of pupils out of school.
“Also, many communities are in danger of a health crisis due to the strike, while many students roam the streets as the doors of schools remain shut,” Lenin added.
“This is pure wickedness and a disregard for the welfare of workers and the people of Abuja.”
CDWR criticised the FCT administration for prioritising elite projects, citing the N39 billion renovation of the International Conference Centre, renamed after President Bola Tinubu, as an example of misplaced priorities.
The group accused the Area Council Chairmen of hypocrisy, saying, “If the Area councils are truly poor, why are the chairperson and their cronies receiving humongous salaries and allowances? This is a case of poverty for the workers and opulence for the chairmen.”
They also condemned President Tinubu’s silence, saying, “The FCT minister just splashed N39 billion to repair the International Conference Centre, which has now been renamed after the president who has maintained criminal silence on the plight of workers.”
CDWR fully endorsed a three-day mass protest set to begin Monday and urged the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to mobilise wider union participation.
“We commend the doggedness of the workers who have been on strike since March 24, after several warning strikes and protest actions,” Lenin said.
“We call on the FCT leadership of NLC, who have stood by the affected FCT workers, to mobilise workers in other unions to support the protest action of the striking workers.
“Such a show of solidarity is needed to put more pressure on the government and ensure the demands of the FCT workers are met.”
The group also urged the national leaders of NLC, NUT, NULGE, and NANNM to openly support the strike and push for the full implementation of the minimum wage and settlement of all arrears.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
