FCT Teachers Resume Classes After Suspending Two-Week Strike

Teachers in public primary and secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have resumed academic activities following the suspension of their two-week strike.

The resumption followed a directive from the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) after consultations and reconciliation meetings with the FCT Administration over unresolved labour issues.

Naija News reports that teachers returned to classrooms across parts of Abaji, Gwagwalada, Bwari and Kuje area councils on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, although pupils’ and students’ attendance remained low in some schools.

The strike was suspended after discussions between labour leaders and government representatives, with both sides reaching resolutions on issues affecting teachers’ welfare and career progression.

Among the agreements reached was a provision for the promotion of education officers, with available vacancies to be determined by the establishment positions declared by the Education Secretariat.

The NLC also said the FCT Civil Service Commission would be informed of the Executive Council’s approval of the 2025 promotion examination, after which a new date would be announced for eligible candidates.

Teachers Resume Lessons Despite Low Attendance

Checks on Wednesday showed that teachers had returned to work in several schools, although many pupils and students were yet to resume fully.

At Pilot Science Primary School in Abaji, teachers were seen conducting lessons despite the low turnout.

A teacher, Shuaibu Musa, said he returned to school after receiving a resumption directive from the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) late on Tuesday.

The school’s head teacher, Alhaji Salihu Jibrin, said he received the information through the teachers’ union platform and contacted other staff members to prepare for resumption.

Jibrin disclosed that more than 300 pupils had returned by Wednesday. He expressed optimism that attendance would improve before the end of the week.

He also commended the FCT NUT leadership, led by Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, for its efforts to protect teachers’ welfare.

The head teacher praised FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for paying some outstanding arrears owed to teachers but urged the administration to continue addressing their welfare concerns.

At Government Junior Secondary School, Naharati, also in Abaji, teachers and a few students had returned to the classrooms.

One of the teachers, Gabriel Moses, said he learnt about the resumption directive at about 11:12 p.m. on Tuesday and prepared to return to work the following morning.

Moses urged the FCT Administration to honour its agreements with the unions to prevent another disruption of academic activities.

Similar developments were recorded at Demonstration Primary School and Government Day Secondary School in Gwagwalada, where lessons had resumed despite low attendance.

Pupils were also seen receiving lessons at LEA Primary Schools in Gwako and Zuba, both in Gwagwalada Area Council.

In Chibiri community, Kuje Area Council, a few teachers and pupils had also returned to LEA Primary School.

Teachers Express Concerns Over Promotion Requirements

Despite the resumption, some teachers expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the negotiations, particularly the requirement that promotions be tied to available vacancies.

One teacher argued that the FCT Minister should have addressed the issue directly, especially the unions’ demand for a review of the vacancy requirement.

The teacher described the failure to resolve the matter as disappointing despite the suspension of the strike.

The concerns highlight the possibility of renewed tensions if the outstanding issues are not adequately addressed.

NUT Warns of Challenges Recovering Lost Academic Time

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kubwa chapter, Comrade Ameh Baba, said teachers returned to work immediately because they could not afford to lose more academic time.

Baba warned that recovering the two weeks lost to the strike would be challenging, adding that the union would consider available options, including extending the school calendar by two weeks.

He described the industrial action as unfortunate, arguing that the dispute could have been resolved earlier if the government had acted more quickly.

“The strike was supposed to have been called off since Monday, but unfortunately, those at the helm of affairs on the government side played with the matter, thereby creating more problems rather than solving the initial ones,” he said.

Baba also alleged that the government’s threat to issue queries to teachers worsened the dispute and prompted a response from the NLC.

He urged the FCT Administration to fulfil its outstanding commitments to teachers, claiming that about 70 per cent of the promises remained unfulfilled.

The resumption has restored teaching activities in affected schools, but the successful resolution of the dispute will depend on the government’s implementation of the agreements reached with the unions.

Editorial note: The article retains the claims and figures provided in the source material. The reported number of returning pupils and the claim that about 70 per cent of government commitments remain unfulfilled should be independently verified before publication.