Contractors responsible for cleaning the Federal Capital Territory have threatened to suspend services from September 25 following the non-payment of nine months’ outstanding wages.
The contractors, under the aegis of the Association of FCT Solid Waste and Cleaning Contractors (AFSOWAC), issued the warning in a letter addressed to the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.
According to the group, its members manage sanitation across 44 lots in Abuja, clearing over 1,000 tonnes of waste daily with more than 100 refuse trucks and 60 tippers, and employing over 3,000 staff.
“Despite our loyalty and sustained service delivery, we have not received payments since January 2025,” AFSOWAC said, stressing that many workers depend solely on the job for survival.
The association explained that contractors had kept operations running by borrowing from formal and informal sources, but such options had now been exhausted.
It further accused the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) of issuing daily directives without resolving the financial crisis.
The contractors warned that the payment delays were already causing a noticeable build-up of refuse in Abuja, a city known for its cleanliness. They also decried the deplorable condition of the Gosa dumpsite, calling for urgent improvements to access and equipment.
AFSOWAC urged the FCT Administration to speed up the procurement process it initiated in October 2024, arguing that current contracts are tied to outdated rates that no longer reflect economic realities such as subsidy removal and naira devaluation.
“We have reached a point where passion and commitment alone cannot sustain this essential service. Without payment, we cannot continue,” the association warned.
The group appealed for urgent government intervention to avert a sanitation crisis, warning that any disruption could endanger public health and safety in the capital city.
