Contractors responsible for cleaning Abuja have threatened to suspend services from September 25 over the non-payment of nine months’ wages.
The group, under the Association of FCT Solid Waste and Cleaning Contractors (AFSOWAC), said they can no longer keep the city clean without urgent action. In a letter to the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, the association explained that despite working since January, they have not been paid.
AFSOWAC members clear more than 1,000 tonnes of waste every day across Abuja. They use over 100 refuse trucks and 60 tippers to do the work, and the service engages more than 3,000 workers. Many of these workers depend fully on the job for their survival.
The association noted that contractors had borrowed from both banks and informal lenders to continue operations. But those resources, they said, have now been exhausted. “Despite our loyalty and sustained service delivery, we have not received payments since January 2025,” the statement read.
The group also criticised the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), which manages the contracts. According to them, the AEPB issues daily directives but fails to address their financial struggles. They added that waste build-up is already visible in parts of the city, threatening Abuja’s reputation for cleanliness.
AFSOWAC further described the Gosa dumpsite as “deplorable” and demanded urgent intervention. They called for better access roads and modern equipment at the site. The association also urged the FCT Administration to speed up the procurement process that started in October 2024.
They stressed that current rates do not reflect Nigeria’s economic realities, especially after subsidy removal and naira devaluation.
AFSOWAC warned that if the government fails to act quickly, sanitation services will be disrupted. Such a disruption, they added, could endanger public health and safety across the Federal Capital Territory.
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