The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has commenced an indefinite strike across the territory over unresolved issues surrounding teachers’ promotion, career progression and welfare.
The industrial action began on Wednesday, October 7, after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the FCT Administration to respond to the union’s demands.
The NLC said the administration’s response failed to adequately address the concerns raised by organised labour, describing it as unclear and unacceptable.
One of the major issues behind the strike is the reported use of available vacancies as a requirement for promoting teachers. According to the union, the policy has contributed to prolonged career stagnation among teachers serving under the FCT Universal Basic Education Board and the Secondary Education Board.
The labour body argued that teachers who have met the necessary requirements for advancement should not have their promotions delayed because of limited vacancies.
The NLC is also demanding that teachers who qualified for the 2025 promotion exercise be given an opportunity to participate in the examination, either alongside candidates for the 2026 exercise or before them.
Another key demand concerns directors affected by the implementation of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. The union called for the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to the affected directors.
Following the commencement of the strike, the NLC directed its affiliate unions and workers across the FCT to withdraw their services until the outstanding issues are resolved.
The directive covers workers in schools, hospitals, government offices and other public establishments within the Federal Capital Territory.
The development is expected to affect the delivery of public services, particularly education and other government operations, as the labour dispute continues.
The NLC also appealed to parents, residents and civil society organisations to support its action, stressing that the dispute over teachers’ promotion and welfare requires urgent attention from the FCT Administration.
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The union’s position puts pressure on the FCT authorities to engage with organised labour and find a resolution that addresses the concerns over teachers’ career progression, promotion examinations and the treatment of affected directors.
