FCT Teachers Declare Indefinite Strike Over Unmet Welfare Demands

Primary and secondary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have embarked on an indefinite strike action following unresolved welfare and promotion issues, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT chapter, has announced.

The decision was reached at an emergency meeting of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Friday, and contained in a communique jointly signed by the State Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa; State Secretary, Margaret Jethro; and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.

The union directed all teachers in public primary and secondary schools across the FCT to withdraw their services from Monday and remain at home until further notice, urging parents to keep their children safe.

According to the communique made available in Abuja on Saturday, the action followed the expiration of a series of ultimatums issued to the FCT Administration over unresolved demands.

While acknowledging the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, which led to the suspension of a previous 14-week strike in 2025, the union said key agreements reached remain unimplemented.

The teachers also commended the implementation of the new N70,000 minimum wage and payment of nine months’ salary arrears, but insisted that other critical issues remain outstanding.

SWEC recalled that a committee set up by the FCT Administration in July 2025 to harmonise outstanding entitlements and propose lasting solutions to recurring industrial disputes submitted its report in August 2025, but the document has not been made public or implemented.

The union said the delay in acting on the committee’s recommendations, alongside continued silence from authorities, necessitated the latest strike action.

Among their key demands are the immediate release and implementation of the committee’s report, removal of “vacancies” as a precondition for teachers’ promotion, and a review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission to allow eligible teachers advance without hindrance.

“The Council observed with concern that despite exhausting all avenues, there has been no tangible response from the authorities. Consequently, all teachers are directed to proceed on an indefinite strike until our demands are met,” the statement read.

The union urged parents and guardians to keep pupils and students at home pending resolution of the dispute.