Following the resolve by sanitary field workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja to proceed on indefinite strike as a result of non- payment of their salaries, FCT residents fear that there might be an outbreak in disease.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has not paid its cleaning  contractors for about 5 months. The contractors in turn have had to owe their employees – the sanitary field workers about 3 months salary.

Angered by the continued endless promises of payment, the sanitary workers at the weekend have concluded plans to dump tools until their salaries were cleared.

A sanitary worker, Mrs Godiya Audu, said it was unfortunate that despite status of the FCT and the health risks posed to them, the welfare of sanitary staff and the cleaning contractors has been relegated to the background.

Mrs Audu noted that while in the past, the payments of contractors was made to be in the first line charge , it was now a different case and hence the dirts littered in parts the FCT.

“You can imagine that Sallah is just days away while immediately after that our children will be resuming  schools and yet our salaries for three months are yet to be paid,” she lamented.

Reacting to the development, Mr Eddy Lawson who resides in Utako district, cautioned the FCTA on the dangers inherent in nonpayment of the contractors , saying it was the time for the rainy season with schools and children on holiday. He said the non cleaning of the FCT had the potential of causing an epidemic and disease outbreak.

“The rainy season comes with far more dangerous risks to health and environment. This is even when more work is done by the contractors and their employees -the  sanitary people for obvious reasons. The FCTA, must therefore live up to its responsibilities and ensure that citizens safety is a priority.

“The FCT minister must return the payment of contractors to the first line charge , else the consequences of the workers strike is better left imagined”, Mr Lawson advised.

Leadership