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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory Council, has declared an indefinite strike across the FCT over unresolved grievances concerning the promotion and conditions of service of teachers.
The labour body directed workers in both the public and private sectors to withdraw their services from Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
The decision followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the issues.
In a communiqué signed by the FCT NLC Chairman, Knabayi Adalo, the council described the FCTA’s response to its demands as “ambiguous and totally unacceptable.”
The NLC directed all affiliate unions to mobilise their members for full compliance, while enforcement committees are to be established across the territory.
Under the directive, government offices, schools, hospitals and other public establishments in the FCT are expected to remain shut.
The union had demanded the removal of the vacancy requirement for the promotion of FCT teachers and urged that teachers eligible for promotion in 2025 be allowed to sit for their examinations before or alongside the 2026 candidates.
It also demanded the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to affected directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.
The NLC further called for the dissolution of the management teams of the FCT State Education Board and FCT Universal Basic Education Board, with their immediate reinstatement.
According to the council, the FCTA’s response failed to address the vacancy clause, which it said was responsible for career stagnation among teachers.
The labour body argued that teachers should not be subjected to vacancy-based promotion requirements because they are recruited specifically to teach and are not pool officers in the civil service.
The NLC said the strike would remain “total and indefinite” until the issues are resolved, while warning against victimisation of workers participating in the industrial action.
It also appealed to parents, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to prevail on the FCTA to resolve the dispute, warning that the prolonged disagreement could further disrupt the education sector.
