From Victor Osula, Abuja
Public primary and secondary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have declared an indefinite strike beginning Monday, escalating a protracted 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 FCT Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the union after an emergency meeting in Gwagwalada, Abuja, signalling a collapse of negotiations, following months of unmet demands and ignored deadlines.
In a communiqué jointly signed by FCT Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa, Secretary Margaret Jethro, and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye, the union ordered all public primary and secondary school teachers to withdraw their services indefinitely, insisting that members would remain at home until concrete action is taken.
At the heart of the dispute is the failure of the FCT Administration, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, to release and implement the report of a high-level committee set up in July 2025 to harmonise outstanding teachers’ entitlements and recommend lasting solutions to recurring industrial disputes. Despite submitting its report in August 2025, the document has remained unreleased, with no official explanation for the delay.
The union said the strike became inevitable after a seven-day ultimatum issued in March, alongside an additional 28-day grace period, expired without any tangible response from authorities.
While acknowledging the payment of nine months’ salary arrears and the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage, the NUT stressed that these measures only addressed a fraction of the broader issues, leaving fundamental concerns unresolved.
Among the unresolved matters is the controversial “vacancy” requirement for promotion, which the union says has effectively stagnated the careers of qualified teachers by tying advancement to the availability of positions rather than merit and years of service. The NUT is also demanding a full review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission, alleging that it unfairly excluded many eligible teachers.
The union further argued that the continued delay in implementing agreed reforms reflects a deeper structural problem in the administration of basic education in the FCT, where policy decisions are not matched by timely execution.
“This action follows exhaustive deliberations on the persistent silence and failure to address the legitimate welfare concerns of teachers”, the communiqué stated, underscoring growing frustration within the workforce.
Parents have been advised to keep their children at home, as the shutdown is expected to affect thousands of pupils and students across public schools in the nation’s capital.
The strike marks a resurgence 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 agreed terms, industrial peace cannot be sustained.
