The Nigeria Labour Congress, FCT Council, has declared an indefinite strike across the Federal Capital Territory over unresolved issues surrounding the promotion and welfare of teachers.

The industrial action commenced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following a decision reached at the council’s State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday at Labour House, Abuja.

In a statement signed by the NLC FCT Council Chairman, Knabayi S. Adalo, the union directed workers in both the public and private sectors to stay away from their duty posts until further notice.

Seven-Day Ultimatum Expires

The strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory over demands concerning teachers in the territory.

The NLC said its demands include the removal of the vacancy requirement for the promotion of FCT teachers, reconsideration of eligible 2025 teachers to allow them to sit for promotion examinations, and withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors who benefited from the Harmonised Teachers Retirement Age Act, 2022.

According to the union, the FCT Administration’s response to the ultimatum failed to resolve the issues.

“The FCTA’s response to our ultimatum was vague and did not address the core issue of the vacancy clause, including the unlawful demotion of directors,” the NLC said.

NLC Rejects Vacancy-Based Promotion For Teachers

The labour council argued that teachers should not be subjected to the vacancy-based promotion system applicable to pool officers.

“We want to make it clear: Teachers are not core civil servants nor pool staff and cannot be subjected to vacancy-based promotion meant for pool officers,” the union stated.

It maintained that teachers were recruited specifically to teach and should be promoted when due.

The NLC also accused the FCT Administration of seeking to maintain industrial harmony without addressing what it described as injustices against teachers.

“The FCTA’s attempt to sustain industrial harmony without addressing injustice is mere wishful thinking. There can be no peace without justice,” it stated.

All FCT Workers Directed To Stay Away

Following the declaration, the NLC directed all workers across the FCT, including those in the private sector, to remain at home from October 7 until further notice.

“Consequently, all workers in the FCT – public and private – are directed to stay away from their duty posts and stay at home from 7th October, 2026, until further notice,” the statement read.

The council appealed to residents, particularly parents, to bear with workers during the industrial action.

It also called on civil society organisations and other Nigerians to prevail on the FCT Administration to resolve the dispute.

The union warned that the action would not be a limited warning strike, declaring: “The strike will be total and indefinite.”

The FCT Administration had yet to publicly respond to the strike declaration as of press time.

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This decision follows the receipt of February 2025 salaries without implementing the promised N70,000 minimum wage, causing disappointment among affected teachers.

Teachers Protest Non-Implementation of New Minimum Wage

The strike was confirmed in a communique issued after an emergency State Wing Standing Committee (SWSC) meeting held in Gwagwalada.

The meeting addressed discrepancies in salary payments, particularly the exclusion of the national minimum wage from the latest disbursement.

“The Union finds worrisome the constant and flagrant disregard for agreements reached with the Area Council Chairmen in FCT,” it stated.

One of the critical agreements was implementing the minimum wage for primary school teachers by February 2025, suspending the last strike.

Teachers Decry Continued Financial Hardship

Expressing disappointment over the payment process, the union called the salary disbursement unfair and insensitive to teachers’ ongoing struggles.

The SWSC criticized the financial burden on teachers, questioning, “Why continuously impoverish the impoverished? Why impose hardship and suffering on teachers and their families? Enough is enough!”

Union’s Key Demands

The communique outlined the teachers’ demands, which include:

• Immediate minimum wage implementation in February salaries, paying the differential between old and new wages without delay.
• Payment of March salaries according to the new minimum wage framework agreed upon by all stakeholders earlier this year.
• Disbursement of six months’ worth of minimum wage arrears, fulfilling commitments made in previous negotiations with government officials.
• Implementation of various allowances, including a 40 percent peculiar allowance and other salary increases promised during past discussions.

Union members were urged to remain resolute while parents were advised to keep children at home until further notice.

FCT NUT Chairman Expresses Frustration

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, FCT NUT Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, expressed deep frustration with authorities.

“We suspended our strike on February 21, 2025, under the assurance that the new minimum wage would be implemented promptly,” he stated.

He described processing February salaries without incorporating the wage increase as “disturbing, disheartening, and lacking empathy for struggling teachers.”

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