Public schools in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory have been disrupted following an indefinite strike over teachers’ promotions and welfare, while a secondary school teachers’ union has instructed its members to continue working.
The industrial action began on Wednesday, 7 October, after the Nigeria Labour Congress’s FCT council rejected the administration’s response to its demands.
According to Channels Television, the NLC directed workers across public and private establishments to withdraw their services following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum.
Why workers are protesting
The main dispute concerns a requirement that vacancies must be available before teachers can receive promotions.
The NLC argues that this has delayed career progression and that teachers should not face the same vacancy-based promotion arrangements as general civil service staff.
The council also wants teachers who became eligible for promotion in 2025 to sit their examinations before or alongside the 2026 candidates.
Other demands include withdrawing redeployment and demotion letters affecting education directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act 2022, and reinstating dissolved education board management teams.
Punch reported that FCT NLC chairman Knabayi Adalo said the administration’s response had failed to resolve the issues that prompted the ultimatum.
Secondary school union rejects the strike
The FCT chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, has taken a different position.
According to TheCable, ASUSS described the strike as premature and directed teachers and education officers to continue their duties.
It said some concerns had already been addressed and argued that the vacancy requirement forms part of public service rules governing staffing and financial planning. It favoured dialogue over industrial action.
ASUSS also instructed principals and vice-principals to keep secondary schools operating.
What the administration has said
TheCable reported that, in a letter dated 29 September, FCTA head of civil service Nancy Nathan informed the NLC that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had ordered a stay of action on disputed matters.
The letter also referred to rescheduling the 2025 promotion examination for affected education officers. The NLC maintains that these steps do not adequately address its demands.
Disruption and uncertainty for families
Daily Trust reported disruption to academic activities in public primary and secondary schools across the FCT’s six area councils.
The competing union instructions leave families needing to establish their individual schools’ arrangements. The NLC’s wider shutdown directive should not be treated as proof that every hospital, government office, or private establishment has closed.
For Nigerian diaspora families supporting children’s education in the FCT, the immediate concern is continuity of learning and reliable information about attendance.
Trivane View
Teachers deserve clear promotion rules and timely decisions. Families also need consistent information about school operations.
The administration and unions should explain what has been resolved, identify the remaining disagreements, and establish a clear timetable for addressing them.
