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There was heightened tension at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja on Tuesday as members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) embarked on a forceful demonstration to demand payment of outstanding financial benefits.
The protesting workers, wearing bright red shirts as a sign of solidarity, shut the gates of the ministry, restricting both entry and exit of vehicles and personnel.
The union members, while silent towards journalists, made their grievances clear through the numerous placards they held.
The inscriptions revealed frustration over the government’s failure to settle backlogs of allowances, arrears, and other owed emoluments.
The action caused a standstill in the ministry’s usual operations and drew the attention of passersby and civil servants alike.
Sources close to the union hinted that the protest is a warning action, hinting at a possible escalation if their demands continue to be ignored.
With Nigeria currently grappling with economic challenges, the workers say they can no longer endure the consistent delay in receiving their rightful earnings.
At the time of this report, ministry officials had yet to publicly react to the situation, leaving many wondering what the next steps from the federal government or the union might be.