FCT teachers declare indefinite strike

Public school activities across Abuja are expected to be severely disrupted following the announcement of an indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory wing.

The industrial action was declared by the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the union after an emergency meeting held on Friday in Gwagwalada.

According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the strike is set to commence on Monday and will affect all public primary and secondary schools in the territory.

Public school activities across Abuja are expected to be severely disrupted following the announcement of an indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory wing.

The industrial action was declared by the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the union after an emergency meeting held on Friday in Gwagwalada.

The communiqué, jointly signed by State Chairman Abdullahi Shafa, State Secretary Margaret Jethro, and State Publicity Secretary Ibukun Adekeye, cited unresolved welfare and entitlement issues as the reason for the industrial action.

According to the union, all affected teachers are expected to fully comply with the directive and remain off duty until further notice.

The leadership also urged parents to keep their children and wards at home while the strike lasts, warning that academic activities across public schools in the FCT would be halted.

According to the union, the strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over the non-implementation of agreements reached with teachers.

The union acknowledged the minister’s intervention in implementing the ₦70,000 minimum wage and payment of nine months arrears to primary school teachers, but expressed concern that key outstanding matters remain unresolved.

It recalled that a committee set up on July 7, 2025, to harmonise unpaid entitlements and recommend lasting solutions to recurring disputes completed its work and submitted a report in August 2025, but the report has not been made public.

The teachers’ union also demanded the removal of the “vacancies” condition attached to promotions for classroom teachers and a full review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission.

It said despite the expiration of the ultimatum and an additional 28-day grace period granted to the authorities, no meaningful response had been received.

The union stated that teachers would remain at home until all demands are fully addressed.