FCT Teachers Begin Indefinite Strike Over Unresolved Welfare Issues

Teachers under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, have commenced an indefinite strike action, directing all primary and secondary school teachers to stay off duty from Monday.

The decision was reached at an emergency State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, and communicated in a statement jointly signed by the State Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa, State Secretary, Margaret Jethro, and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.

The union directed all affected teachers to comply fully with the strike and await further instructions, while advising parents to keep their children at home until the situation is resolved.

According to the union, the strike follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over unresolved welfare concerns and outstanding entitlements.

Although the union acknowledged the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage and payment of nine months’ salary arrears, it expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s failure to act on the report of a committee set up in July 2025 to address teachers’ outstanding issues.

The committee, mandated to harmonise entitlements and recommend long-term solutions to recurring disputes, reportedly submitted its findings in August 2025, but the report has yet to be made public.

The union also raised concerns over the continued use of “vacancies” as a condition for teacher promotions and called for a comprehensive review of the 2024 promotion exercise to ensure eligible teachers are not unfairly denied advancement.

Following what it described as prolonged silence from authorities, even after an additional 28-day grace period, the union said it had no choice but to proceed with the industrial action.

Teachers are expected to remain off duty until all demands are addressed, raising concerns about disruptions to academic activities in public schools across the FCT.