WIKE IN TROUBLE AS PROTESTERS STORM HIS OFFICE ,CALLS SECRETARY THIEF AND DEMMANDED TO SEE FCT MINISTER, 

Nurses, primary school teachers, and local government employees in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) staged a demonstration at the office of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on Thursday, demanding urgent action on unpaid wages and the reopening of shuttered healthcare facilities.

The protesters, representing the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the FCT chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), gathered at the FCTA Secretariat in Area 11. They condemned what they called systemic neglect of workers’ welfare and a deepening public health emergency stemming from the closure of over 270 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) for more than a month.

*Healthcare System in Crisis
James Medan, Chairman of NANNM-FCT, warned that Nigeria’s strained healthcare infrastructure is nearing collapse, citing the nation’s alarming position as the second-worst globally for maternal and child mortality. He directly tied the crisis to the prolonged shutdown of PHCs across the FCT’s six Area Councils, emphasizing that fewer than 130 nurses and midwives are struggling to manage the remaining facilities. “Women and children are losing their lives daily due to these closures,” Medan stated, accusing Area Council leaders of failing to act despite the release of ₦4.1 billion by the FCT administration.

In addition to demanding the immediate implementation of a ₦70,000 minimum wage, protesters called for the settlement of overdue salary arrears, hazard pay, and uniform allowances for healthcare workers. Medan also raised alarms that the PHC closures jeopardize an upcoming nationwide polio vaccination drive, heightening risks of disease outbreaks.

ducation Sector on the Brink
Abdullahi Shafa, FCT Chairman of the NUT, echoed concerns over the escalating crisis, highlighting a prolonged strike by primary school teachers protesting unpaid wages. “The education system in the Area Councils is on the verge of collapse if these issues persist,” he warned.

**Protest Escalates Amid Chants and Demands**
The demonstration, which began at the Labour House before converging at the FCTA Secretariat, drew support from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and allied groups. Protesters blocked access to the building, insisting on a direct audience with Minister Wike.

An attempt by Mandate Secretary Lawrence Garki to address the crowd backfired as attendees drowned his speech with chants of “Thief! Thief!” and refused to engage. “We won’t leave until Wike faces us. We’re exhausted by empty promises while our communities suffer,” one protester declared.

The groups further demanded the resignation of the six Area Council chairmen, accusing them of neglecting frontline workers’ plight.

**Government Response**
Mandate Secretary of the FCT Education Secretariat, Hayyo Danlami, eventually received the protesters’ petition on behalf of Minister Wike, pledging swift attention to their grievances. However, skepticism lingered among demonstrators, who vowed to escalate actions if tangible solutions are delayed.

The protest underscores mounting tensions over public sector accountability and resource allocation in the FCT, with workers urging immediate intervention to avert further crises in healthcare and education.