The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory Council, has declared an indefinite strike across the FCT over unresolved concerns about teachers’ promotion and welfare.
The industrial action began on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, after the council’s State Executive Council meeting at Labour House in Abuja.
The NLC FCT Council Chairman, Knabayi S. Adalo, announced the decision in a statement issued on Wednesday. He directed workers in both the public and private sectors to stay away from their duty posts until further notice.
The declaration followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory over issues affecting teachers in the territory.
NLC Lists Demands Over FCT Teachers
The labour council said it had asked the FCT Administration to remove the vacancy requirement attached to teachers’ promotion.
It also demanded that eligible teachers from the 2025 promotion cycle be allowed to sit for their promotion examinations.
Another major demand concerns directors who benefited from the Harmonised Teachers Retirement Age Act, 2022. The NLC called for the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to affected directors.
According to the union, the response from the FCT Administration did not resolve the issues raised in its ultimatum.
The council described the administration’s response as vague. It said the response failed to address the vacancy clause and what it called the unlawful demotion of directors.
Union Rejects Vacancy-Based Promotion System
The NLC maintained that teachers should not be treated in the same way as pool officers when considering promotions. The council argued that teachers have a distinct professional role within the education system. It said their promotions should follow the conditions applicable to their profession rather than depend on available vacancies.
The union said teachers were employed specifically to teach and should receive promotions when they become due.
It also argued that maintaining industrial harmony requires the FCT Administration to address the issues behind the dispute.
The council said attempts to preserve industrial peace without resolving the concerns raised by teachers would not settle the dispute.
NLC Orders Workers to Stay Away
Following the expiration of its ultimatum, the NLC directed all workers across the FCT to remain at home.
The directive covers workers in both the public and private sectors. The council said the action would begin on October 7 and continue until its demands are addressed.
The labour body also stressed that the action was not a warning strike.
The NLC described the industrial action as total and indefinite, meaning workers are expected to remain away from their workplaces until further notice from the union.
NLC Appeals to FCT Residents
The labour council appealed to residents of the Federal Capital Territory to bear with workers during the industrial action. It particularly appealed to parents who could be affected by disruptions in the education sector.
The union also called on civil society organisations and other Nigerians to intervene by urging the FCT Administration to resolve the dispute.
The NLC said resolving the issues would help prevent further disruption to education services in the territory.
FCTA Yet to React
As of the time of the report, the FCT Administration had not publicly responded to the NLC’s declaration of an indefinite strike. The development leaves the two sides facing pressure to resolve the outstanding issues affecting teachers.
For now, the NLC has directed workers across the FCT to remain away from their duty posts until further notice.
