On Friday, construction workers threatened to halt ongoing work on major highways across the country, including the crucial Abuja-Kano road, following the dismissal of over 52,000 workers, News About Nigeria reports.
The affected projects include Obajana Road, Abuja-Kano Road, Bodo-Bonny Road, East-West Road, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Kogi-Auchi Road, and Zaria-Sokoto Road.
The workers, represented by the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA) and the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), announced a potential nationwide strike if their demands are unmet within 21 days.
The dispute stems from disagreements between the Federal Ministry of Works and the workers’ employers, the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), which led to the layoffs of around 3,000 workers.
The unions, affiliates of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), criticised the unilateral imposition of new contract conditions by the Minister of Works, which they claim contravenes existing standards approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
During a press briefing in Abuja, CCESSA President Engr. Ayodeji Adeyemo and NUCECFWW President Comrade Stephen Okoro said that the dispute has severely impacted the industry.
“In the last three months, we have lost almost 3,000 workers, and the mass sack is still continuing. If the conflict is not resolved, in the next two months, we expect an additional 32,000 workers to be affected,” said Adeyemo.
The unions warned that the looming strike would disrupt major road projects handled by top construction companies like RCC, Setraco, and Salini.
“Today, there is a total slowdown in the industry due to the disagreement between the contractors and the Ministry of Works over the new contract conditions imposed by the Minister,” added Okoro.
“This has led to mass layoffs of Nigerian workers who are our members.”
The unions lamented that the current situation contradicts President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”, exacerbating poverty and insecurity in the country.
“We have already lost over 50 percent of our members due to this disagreement. This situation is bound to further increase the challenges Nigeria is grappling with,” they said.
