FCT teachers declare indefinite strike over denied rights and stalled reforms – THIS UPDATE

Teachers at public primary and secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have declared an indefinite strike starting Monday, escalating a prolonged standoff with the FCT administration over unpaid entitlements, delayed reforms and what the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) describes as official inaction.

The directive was issued by the union’s FCT Wing Executive Council (SWEC) after an emergency meeting in Gwagwalada, Abuja, signaling a breakdown in negotiations, after months of unmet demands and ignored deadlines.

In a statement jointly signed by the FCT President, Abdullahi Shafa, Secretary Margaret Jethro and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye, the union ordered all teachers in public primary and secondary schools to withdraw their services indefinitely, insisting that members would remain at home until concrete action is taken.

At the heart of the controversy is the failure of the FCT administration, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, to publish and implement the report of a high-level committee established in July 2025 to harmonize outstanding teachers’ rights and recommend lasting solutions to recurring industrial disputes. Despite submitting his report in August 2025, the document remained unpublished, with no official explanation for the delay.

The union said the strike became inevitable after a seven-day ultimatum issued in March, along with a further 28-day grace period, expired without any tangible response from the authorities.

While acknowledging the payment of nine months’ back wages and the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage, the NUT stressed that these measures address only a fraction of the broader issues, leaving key concerns unaddressed.

Among the unresolved issues is the controversial “vacancy” requirement for promotion, which the union says has effectively stalled the careers of qualified teachers by tying advancement to the availability of positions rather than merit and years of service. The NUT is also calling for a full review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission, arguing that it unfairly excluded many eligible teachers.

The union further argued that the continued delay in the implementation of agreed reforms reflects a deeper structural problem in the administration of basic education in the FCT, where policy decisions are not accompanied by timely execution.

“This action follows extensive deliberations about the persistent silence and failure to address teachers’ legitimate concerns regarding well-being,” the statement read, underscoring growing frustration within the workforce.

Parents have been advised to keep their children at home as the closure is expected to affect thousands of public school pupils and students in the nation’s capital.

The strike marks a resumption of tensions that had briefly eased in 2025 after government intervention led to the suspension of a 14-week industrial action.

However, the union now insists that without full implementation of the agreed terms, industrial peace cannot be sustained.