Some local government workers in Gwagwalada Area Council have expressed appreciation to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his intervention in ending their three-month strike over unpaid minimum wage and welfare arrears.
The workers shared their views in separate interviews on Wednesday in Gwagwalada.
A correspondent who visited the council’s secretariat at 10 a.m. observed that the premises remained scanty, with only a few staff present.
While some workers said they had resumed duties in line with union directives, many others had yet to return to work.
Local government workers in the FCT, under the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), had embarked on an indefinite strike over unpaid minimum wage arrears.
In a communiqué released on Monday, signed by FCT NULGE President, Ibrahim Kabi, and Secretary, Abdulmumin Sa’ad, the union officially announced the suspension of the strike.
Solomon Adejoh, a staff member of Gwagwalada Area Council, said the three-month strike significantly disrupted the council’s activities.
He urged council chairmen to seek alternative ways to address workers’ concerns without resorting to strike action.
“For the past three months, it has not been easy staying at home and doing nothing. The council chairmen should always pay workers their dues in order to avert situations like this,” he said.
“It is not fair withholding the entitlement of workers after working. The unpaid arrears we are demanding for is our right and not out of place.”
Adejoh appealed to council authorities to settle the outstanding arrears promptly, citing the harsh economic conditions facing workers.
Theresa Idawoji, another council worker, expressed hope that the minister’s intervention would lead to the prompt payment of outstanding wages.
She emphasised that workers do not enjoy going on strike, but often have no other means of expressing their grievances.
“No country will make progress in a situation of going back and forth in the name of strike; a lasting solution should be proffered by our leaders to tackle the problem of incessant strike in Nigeria,” she said.
“Government should not always wait for workers to embark on strike before their demands will be given attention.”
Similarly, Abdulhamid Adamu, a council staff member, urged chairmen not to renege on the resolutions reached with NULGE to avoid another round of industrial action.