Cleaners across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including sanitation workers in hospitals, city streets, satellite towns, and security personnel, have made a heartfelt appeal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, over their unpaid salaries and allowances spanning six to eight months.

 

The affected workers, who form the backbone of the FCT’s hygiene and sanitation system, expressed deep frustration over the delay in payment despite their tireless efforts to keep Abuja clean and habitable.

 

Speaking to our correspondent, several cleaners revealed the extent of their hardship, noting that they continue to work under harsh weather conditions and public harassment with no compensation for months.

 

“We sweep the streets, clean hospitals, and work in dirty and dangerous places just to keep the city clean,” said one worker. “Yet, we have not been paid for over six months. This is not just frustrating, it’s heartbreaking.”

 

The cleaners described their situation as “dire and unsustainable,” with many of them struggling to afford basic necessities such as food, medical care, school fees, and even loan repayments.

 

One of the workers, who pleaded anonymity, tearfully shared: “We may be doing what people call a ‘dirty job,’ but we do it with dignity. It is unfair to suffer like this. Our children are hungry. We are falling sick and have no money for treatment. We are begging the Honourable Minister to hear our cry.”

 

They expressed hope in Minister Nyesom Wike’s reputation for rewarding hard work and standing against injustice. Referring to him by his popular moniker, “Mr. Project,” one of the workers said, “We know he does not like to see people suffer. That’s why we are appealing to him directly—to come to our rescue.”

 

The cleaners emphasized that their plea is not just a demand for salaries owed, but a desperate cry for help from workers who feel abandoned despite their critical role in maintaining public health and environmental safety in the FCT.

 

As Abuja continues to benefit from their often-unseen labor, these workers say they are simply asking for what they have earned—and the dignity that should come with it.