Some residents of Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried their inability to access primary healthcare services due to an ongoing three-month strike by council workers.
The residents voiced their concerns in separate interviews in Bwari on Saturday, and appealed to the FCT Administration and the council chairmen to resolve the lingering industrial action.
Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) jointly directed their members across the six area councils to embark on a “sit-at-home” strike in March.
The action is in demand for the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage and other entitlements by area council administrators.
The strike has led to the closure of primary healthcare centres and schools, significantly disrupting access to essential services.
Mrs Liyatu Adamu, a resident, said the situation had not only left people stranded and economically burdened, but also deprived them of access to basic medical care.
“My two children have been ill for over two weeks now. Normally, I would have taken them to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in our area, but that is no longer possible due to the strike.
We cannot afford to visit major or private hospitals; they are beyond our means. Now, we’re left with over-the-counter (OTC) treatment from pharmacies, which is also expensive,” she lamented.
She appealed to both the FCT and council authorities to intervene and address the grievances of the workers to alleviate the hardship faced by residents.
Mr Luka Ango, another resident and civil servant, said the strike by healthcare and other council workers had deeply affected the local community.
According to him, the disruption of essential health services could significantly increase mortality rates.
“Many families are now forced to spend more travelling to the city centre for healthcare. Even basic services like antenatal care, immunisations, and childbirth have been suspended.
This situation is unacceptable. The workers have genuine demands, so the government must act swiftly to prevent further hardship,” he said.
Mrs Ruth Aboyi, a teacher, described the situation as unfortunate and distressing, particularly for individuals with chronic conditions.
“Patients with urgent needs are not receiving timely care, and this could result in avoidable deaths or serious complications. Interrupted medication schedules may lead to disease outbreaks or worsening health conditions.
Authorities must consider these realities and resolve the matter quickly,” she urged.
Aboyi also noted that nearby secondary hospitals were overwhelmed, and remote communities without alternatives had become especially vulnerable.
Also Read: Health Insurance Authority Inspects FCT Hospitals for Policy Compliance
On his part, Mr Emmanuel Ishaku, NULGE Chairman in Bwari, told NAN that several meetings with stakeholders had not yielded a resolution.
He revealed that the FCT chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had taken up the matter and issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to address the issue.
“If nothing positive comes from the discussions within the set timeframe, the union will not hesitate to picket the FCT Minister’s office, once authorised by our leadership,” he said.
