Public primary and secondary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT have declared an indefinite strike beginning Monday, April 20, 2026, over the failure of authorities to address long-standing welfare issues.
The directive followed an emergency meeting of the State Wing Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, FCT Wing, held at the FCT Teachers’ House in Gwagwalada area council.
Announcing the decision in a communiqué, the State Chairman of the union, Abdullahi Shafa, said the action became necessary after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued to the FCT Administration, as well as an additional 28-day grace period, without any concrete response.
The communique signed by NUT FCT State Secretary, Margaret Jethro, and State Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye, acknowledged the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, particularly in facilitating the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and payment of nine months’ arrears to primary school teachers in the territory.
Shafa said despite this, other critical issues remain unresolved, including the non-release and implementation of a committee report set up in July 2025 to harmonise outstanding entitlements of teachers and provide lasting solutions to recurring industrial disputes.
According to the union, the committee concluded its assignment and submitted its report in August 2025, but the document has yet to be made public.
The teachers also decried the continued use of “vacancies” as a precondition for promotion, calling for a comprehensive review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission to ensure eligible teachers are not denied career progression.
The union used the communique to direct all public primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT to comply fully with the strike directive and await further instructions.
It also advised parents to keep their children and wards at home until further notice.
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
