FCT Teachers begin indefinite strike Monday over unmet demands

The State Wing Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers to begin an indefinite strike from Monday over unresolved welfare and entitlement issues.

The directive was contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency SWEC meeting held in Gwagwalada on Friday. The communiqué was jointly signed by State Chairman Abdullahi Shafa, State Secretary Margaret Jethro, and State Publicity Secretary Ibukun Adekeye.

The union directed teachers to comply fully with the strike order and await further instructions, while advising parents to keep their children and wards safely at home until further notice.

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.