The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, FCT Council, has announced an indefinite strike throughout the Federal Capital Territory due to unresolved matters regarding the promotion and welfare of teachers.
The strike began on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, after a decision was reached at the council’s State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday at Labour House, Abuja.
In a statement signed and issued by the NLC FCT Council Chairman, Knabayi S. Adalo, the union instructed workers in both the public and private sectors to remain away from their duty posts until further notice.
The decision came after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory regarding the union’s demands concerning teachers in the territory.
The NLC had called for the removal of the vacancy precondition for the promotion of FCT teachers, reconsideration of eligible 2025 teachers to allow them to sit for their promotion examination, and the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors who benefited from the Harmonised Teachers Retirement Age Act, 2022.
The union stated that the FCT Administration’s response to its ultimatum did not address the issues at stake.
“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 statement said.
The NLC insisted that teachers in the FCT should not be placed under the vacancy-based promotion system that applies 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,” it said.
The council stated that teachers were hired specifically to teach and ought to be promoted when due.
The labor body also accused the FCT Administration of trying to preserve industrial harmony without tackling what it called injustice 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.
Consequently, the union directed all workers in the FCT to remain at home until its demands were addressed.
“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 called on residents, especially parents, to be patient with the workers during the industrial action, while also urging civil society organizations and other Nigerians to pressure the FCT Administration to resolve the issues.
It said, “We call on the general public, especially parents and residents of the FCT, to bear with us. We also call on civil society and well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the FCTA to do the right thing to save the education sector in the FCT from total collapse.”
The council stressed that the action would not be limited to a warning strike.
“The strike will be total and indefinite,” it declared.
