Some staff members of the Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed frustration over the hardship caused by the ongoing strike over delayed implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, the workers described the situation as increasingly unbearable.
Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the FCT have been on strike since March over the non-payment of the newly approved wage.
Mr. Emmanuel Ishaku, Chairman of NULGE in Bwari Area Council, said many workers were struggling to provide for their families and had resorted to buying essentials on credit.
“This is not sustainable and may plunge many into debts they may never recover from,” he said.
He added that some workers had been unable to pay school fees or access medical care, with many now living from hand to mouth.
“People can’t even visit hospitals when ill. Everything is at a standstill. The suffering is too much,” he said.
Ishaku, however, remained hopeful that the minimum wage would eventually be implemented and prayed that it would happen soon enough to prevent further hardship.
Similarly, Mr. Yakubu Sale, a council staff member, said he had been forced to abandon his motorcycle due to the cost of fuel and now trekked long distances.
“My phone is broken, and I can’t fix it. I’ve also parked my bike because I can’t afford fuel. This is terrible,” he said.
Sale warned that even if the arrears were eventually paid, the delay had already rendered the money less valuable, as workers would use most of it to clear debts.
Hajiya Amina Liman, a widow and mother of four, said her side business—selling women’s clothing, shoes, and handbags online—had helped her get through the “trying period”.
“It’s not been easy, but I’m better off than those relying solely on their salaries. God has been faithful. I just pray our leaders hear our cries soon,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdulmumin Mohammed, Chief of Staff at Abaji Area Council, confirmed that the new minimum wage had been implemented with the April salaries.
“We’ve implemented the new wage, and staff began receiving alerts last night,” he said, expressing hope that other councils would soon follow suit to end the strike.
The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, recently approved N4.1 billion for the six area councils to implement the new minimum wage and settle arrears.
