The Association of FCT Solid Waste and Cleaning Contractors (AFSOWAC) has threatened to suspend cleaning activities in the Federal Capital City (FCC) following the non-payment of nine months outstanding salaries since January 2025.
AFSOWAC, with estimated workforce strength of about 3,000 staff, is responsible for carrying out cleaning services in 44 Lots designated in the city centre of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A statement signed by members of the Association made available to newsmen in Abuja, said rather than address their plight concerning the issues of their salaries, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the FCT Administration (FCTA) instead continue to issue regular releases of directives of to-do-list on the city cleaning platform on a daily basis.
The statement added that due to paucity and non release of funds by the authorities concerned, the Association is finding it difficult to pay its staff saying the long delay in payment has depleted its resources and is beginning to result in build-up of wastes within the City.
The Association however warned that it would no longer sustain and guarantee its services in the FCT if members are not paid their outstanding nine months salaries by September 25, 2025.
“The Association of FCT Solid Waste and Cleaning Contractors (AFSOWAC), is the umbrella body for City Cleaning Contractors carrying out the contract for city cleaning services in the 44 Lots presently designated in the Federal Capital City (FCC), our goal has always prioritized service delivery in terms of quality and timeliness, which is responsible for adjudging Abuja as one of the cleanest cities in Africa.
“City cleaning contractors currently collect and dispose wastes from the city with equipment base of over 100Nos Refuse Compacting Trucks, and 60Nos Tippers, in the process clearing over 1000Tonnes of wastes daily from the FCC, to achieve this, we employ a combined estimated workforce strength of about 3,000 staff most of whom are the poorest of the poor earning their source of livelihood to support their families through the various jobs under our work scope.
“Given the enormity of resources required and deployed to undertake the defined scope of work which includes evacuation of municipal solid waste, vegetation control on roads and streets up to the property line, sweeping, collection and disposal of silt, dirt and garden wastes from roads and streets as our deliverables.
“As partners in progress with the FCT Administration, we have demonstrated loyalty and immense understanding in support of the government as shown by our commitment to this partnership in providing this very essential service over the months based on the public health and security implications to the city and its inhabitants.
“We note that over the period of the past Nine (9) months (since January 2025), the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and the FCT Administration, has not addressed us as critical stakeholders and partners on the reason(s) for the delay with our payment, instead, what we have are regular releases of directives of to-do-list on the city cleaning platform on a daily basis, by AEPB as the contract manager.
“Our members have become over stretched to the limits as funding daily operations, purchase of diesel, maintenance of equipment and machineries for providing these services as well as the payment of staff salaries are all capital intensive. We have sourced funds from formal and informal lenders to keep city sanitation going till this point, and by extension funding the management of the city which is an integral part of a functional city, for which we are not even recognized.
“The long delay in payment has depleted our resources and this is beginning to result in build-up of wastes within the city, with series of complaints from residents, a development that the Federal Capital City (FCC), Abuja is not known for in her recent history.
“Sequel to the aforementioned, we write this letter to convey the collective resolve of the Association and a statement of our inability to guaranty continued service delivery by September 25, 2025, if payments for our nine (9) months outstanding is not made, hence we shall against our will, have to suspend city cleaning services to the FCC,” the statement read in part.
The Association however expressed optimism that prompt and necessary action would be taken to address its concerns and avoid endangering the public health and wellbeing of FCT residents.
Comment:*
Nickname*
E-mail*
Website
