Public primary and secondary schools in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are set for disruption as the Nigeria Union of Teachers has directed members to commence an indefinite strike starting Monday.
The directive was issued by the FCT wing of the union following an emergency meeting of its State Wing Executive Council held in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The communiqué, signed by State Chairman Abdullahi Shafa, Secretary Margaret Jethro, and Publicity Secretary Ibukun Adekeye, instructed teachers to stay off duty until all outstanding demands are addressed.
Parents were also advised to keep their children at home pending further developments, signalling a potential shutdown of basic education across the FCT.
Dispute Over Unimplemented Agreements
The union said the strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over unresolved welfare issues affecting teachers.
Although the union acknowledged the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and payment of nine months’ salary arrears, it expressed concern that key aspects of an earlier agreement remain unfulfilled.
Central to the dispute is a committee set up in July 2025 to harmonise outstanding entitlements and propose long-term solutions to recurring industrial disputes involving primary school teachers.
Despite submitting its report in August 2025, the findings have yet to be made public or implemented.
Key Demands
The union is demanding:
- Immediate release and implementation of the committee’s report on teachers’ entitlements
- Review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission
- Removal of the “vacancy” requirement as a condition for teacher promotion
According to the union, the prolonged silence of authorities — even after an additional 28-day grace period — left it with no option but to embark on industrial action.
Impact on Basic Education
The strike raises fresh concerns about instability in Nigeria’s basic education sector, particularly in the FCT, where repeated industrial actions have disrupted learning in recent years.
Education stakeholders warn that prolonged school closures could worsen learning gaps, especially for students in public schools who already face challenges related to infrastructure and teacher shortages.
The development also highlights broader systemic issues in teacher welfare and policy implementation, which continue to fuel industrial disputes across the country.
As the strike begins, attention will be on the FCT Administration’s response and whether negotiations can quickly resolve the impasse to restore normal academic activities.
