NULGE Issues 72-Hour Ultimatum to Wike for Kuje Council Funds Release

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has set a 72-hour deadline for the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to authorize the release of salaries for January 2026, threatening a complete shutdown of the six area councils in the Abuja territory if their demands are not met.

During a press briefing on Monday evening in Abuja, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Kabi, the FCT President of NULGE, announced the ultimatum.

He explained that the ultimatum was prompted by the FCT Administration’s failure to release the January allocation for the Kuje Area Council, which has hindered staff from receiving their wages.

Kabi expressed frustration that despite the union's efforts to communicate their concerns, there has been no satisfactory response from the authorities involved.

He highlighted that while other federal agencies, states, and local governments have successfully disbursed salaries, the Kuje Area Council remains an outlier, with employees left unpaid.

“The essential question is: what has the workforce of Kuje Area Council done to be deprived of their rightful salaries? These payments are part of the rights and privileges guaranteed to them,” Kabi queried.

He criticized the prolonged delay of the FCT Administration in disbursing the January allocation, labeling it as both unlawful and intolerable.

According to Kabi, the ongoing pattern of withholding funds by the FCTA is alarming, and though the union has maintained a respectful approach, their patience is beginning to dwindle.

Additionally, he noted that families reliant on these salaries have resorted to begging or taking loans, with many struggling to pay tuition fees, resulting in children being sent home.

“Staff members are finding it difficult to pay for accommodation or medical expenses, which has exacerbated their hardships,” the union reported.

“How can this be justified considering the current economic situation? Our attempts to clarify the reasons for this lingering issue have been fruitless, as the responsible office has merely cited ‘technical issues’ as an excuse,” the union added.

The statement concluded with a firm call for the immediate release of salaries by Minister Nyesom Wike. They reiterated the 72-hour ultimatum for the FCTA to facilitate the payment or they would be compelled to initiate industrial actions throughout all six area councils.