By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Sept. 19, 2025 (NAN) Contractors responsible for city cleaning in Abuja have threatened to suspend services from Sept. 25 due to 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, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.
In the letter made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, the group said it could no longer guarantee continued cleaning services in the Federal Capital City (FCC) without urgent payment.
AFSOWAC represents contractors handling city sanitation across 44 lots in Abuja. The group said its members clear over 1,000 tonnes of waste daily using more than 100 refuse trucks and 60 tippers.
It said the work also engages over 3,000 staff, many of whom rely solely on the job for survival.
The contractors said they had kept operations going by borrowing from both formal and informal sources.
However, they warned that resources had been exhausted.
“Despite our loyalty and sustained service delivery, we have not received payments since January 2025,” the association said.
They added that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), which manages the contract, had continued to issue daily directives without addressing their financial concerns.
According to the group, the delay is already leading to a noticeable waste build-up in the city, a trend Abuja is not known for.
They also highlighted the poor condition of the main dumpsite at Gosa, which they described as “deplorable”.
They called for immediate intervention to improve access and equipment availability at the site.
AFSOWAC urged the FCT Administration to expedite the procurement process it initiated in October 2024 to reflect current economic realities, including the removal of fuel subsidy and naira devaluation.
They said current payments are based on outdated rates that do not match present costs of operations.
“We have reached a point where passion and commitment alone cannot sustain this essential service. Without payment, we cannot continue,” the association warned.
They appealed for urgent government action to avoid disruption of sanitation services, which they said could endanger public health and safety.(NAN)
