A wave of unrest swept through Nigeria’s capital today as members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), alongside hundreds of teachers and healthcare professionals, shut down the office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The protest was sparked by the federal government’s failure to implement the agreed-upon ₦70,000 minimum wage for workers in the six area councils of the FCT.
Chanting solidarity songs and hoisting placards bearing messages like “Implement Our Minimum Wage Now!” and “Workers Deserve Better!”, the demonstrators marched from Labour House to the minister’s office in a coordinated display of frustration over what they described as prolonged neglect and insensitivity to workers’ welfare.
Tensions mounted when armed police officers formed a barricade at the entrance to Wike’s office, preventing the protesters from gaining access to the premises. The crowd grew increasingly agitated, demanding that the minister come out to personally address their grievances. “We will not be intimidated by armed police,” one protester declared. “We are here peacefully, demanding what was agreed upon. Workers can no longer survive on empty promises.”
The NLC accused area council chairmen of deliberate negligence and called for their immediate resignation, citing a failure to prioritize the welfare of essential workers. “They have turned a blind eye to the plight of workers who keep this city running,” said Comrade Musa Lawal, one of the protest leaders. “Enough is enough.”
As of press time, Minister Wike had not made a public appearance or issued an official statement in response to the demonstration. Meanwhile, the NLC vowed to sustain the protests until concrete steps are taken to implement the new wage structure. Security remains tight around the minister’s office, and observers fear that continued inaction could lead to broader strikes across the capital in the coming days.
