The Federal Capital Territory Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commenced an indefinite strike across the FCT following a prolonged dispute with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the promotion and welfare of teachers.
The industrial action began on Wednesday, October 7, after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued by the labour council. The NLC directed workers in both the public and private sectors to withdraw their services, affecting schools, hospitals, government offices and other establishments.
At the centre of the dispute is the FCTA’s requirement that teachers must have available vacancies before they can be promoted. The NLC has rejected the policy, arguing that it has contributed to prolonged career stagnation among teachers.
In a resolution signed by FCT NLC Chairman Knabayi Adalo, the council maintained that teachers employed through the FCT Universal Basic Education Board and the FCT Secondary Education Board were recruited specifically for teaching and should therefore progress in their careers when due, rather than being subjected to promotion conditions designed for pool staff.
The union is also demanding that teachers who became eligible for promotion in 2025 be permitted to take their promotion examinations alongside, or ahead of, candidates eligible in 2026.
Other demands include the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors affected by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022, as well as the reinstatement of the dissolved management teams of the FCT Secondary Education Board and Universal Basic Education Board.
The decision to begin the strike was reached at the NLC FCT Council’s State Executive Council meeting on October 6. The labour body said it rejected the FCTA’s response to its ultimatum because it did not adequately address the vacancy requirement or the concerns surrounding the redeployment of education directors.
The council described the administration’s response as unacceptable and said it would continue the industrial action until its demands were addressed.
The NLC has also urged residents and other stakeholders in the FCT to bear with workers during the dispute, while maintaining that the action was prompted by what it considers longstanding concerns over the career progression and welfare of teachers.
