Contractors responsible for waste management in Abuja have warned that they will suspend services from September 25 if the Federal Capital Territory Administration fails to settle nine months of unpaid wages.

The contractors, operating under the Association of FCT Solid Waste and Cleaning Contractors (AFSOWAC), made the threat in a letter addressed to the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.

The letter, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday, said members could no longer guarantee seamless operations without urgent intervention.

“Despite our loyalty and sustained service delivery, we have not received payments since January 2025,” the association stated.

AFSOWAC said its members handle sanitation across 44 lots in the city, clearing more than 1,000 tonnes of waste daily with over 100 refuse trucks and 60 tippers.

The work, according to the association, directly engages more than 3,000 staff who depend on it for their livelihoods.

The group explained that contractors had been sustaining operations by borrowing from both formal and informal sources, but such avenues were now exhausted. It added that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, which oversees the contracts, had continued to issue operational directives without addressing the financial crisis.

The contractors also expressed concern about the deteriorating state of the Gosa dumpsite, describing it as “deplorable,” and urged immediate action to improve access roads and provide equipment to support operations.

AFSOWAC further called on the FCT Administration to conclude the procurement process it initiated in October 2024, arguing that the existing payment structure does not reflect the realities of rising operational costs caused by subsidy removal and naira devaluation.

“We have reached a point where passion and commitment alone cannot sustain this essential service. Without payment, we cannot continue,” the association said.

The group warned that disruption in waste collection could lead to waste accumulation in the capital and expose residents to health and environmental risks unless government acts swiftly.