The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has called on the Federal Capital Territory residents to demand an end to the ongoing industrial action by the employees of the six area councils of the territory.
Ibrahim Abdullahi Kabi, the president of NULGE in the FCT, made the call in a statement he signed in Abuja on Monday.
While noting that the strike had had a telling effect on the residents of the FCT, Kabi charged the public to: “Add your voice to the growing concern and demand action from our leaders”.
Kabi, who said the devastating effect and implications of the strike could not be overemphasised, called for the cooperation of the general public “to ensure the well-being of our communities and the resumption of essential services”.
The NULGE president said public primary schools had been closed down, exams suspended, and LEA offices padlocked, resulting in a halt in academic activities as a result of the strike.
He said the longer the strike lasts, the more learning time pupils would lose, resulting in a knowledge gap and making it challenging for pupils to catch up with their peers.
Kabi also noted that essential services like HIV treatment, TB care, immunisations, antenatal care, and hypertension and diabetes management have been halted, putting lives at risk.
He lamented that the Area Council Chairmen’s insensitivity to the plight of the people was exacerbating the situation.
“Their children don’t attend public schools, and their families don’t patronise public healthcare facilities, making them seemingly unconcerned about the welfare of the masses.
“We urge the authorities to intervene and find a solution to end the strike, ensuring the resumption of critical health services and education,” Kabi added.
It would be recalled that primary school teachers and staff of the six area councils in the FCT under the NUT and NULGE had, on March 24, resumed their strike over non-implementation of the new minimum wage and payment of other backlogs of arrears by the six area council chairmen.
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