Schools Disrupted as FCT Teachers Strike Over Welfare Concerns
Teachers under the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in the Federal Capital Territory have begun a strike because the government has not addressed their demands for improved welfare. The Nigeria Union...
Teachers under the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in the Federal Capital Territory have begun a strike because the government has not addressed their demands for improved welfare.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, said the industrial action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, on March 11, which lapsed on March 29 without a satisfactory response.
In a communique jointly signed by the State Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa; the State Secretary, Margaret Jethro; and the State Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye
The union explained that its decision came after a review of the ultimatum and the continued lack of progress on key demands affecting teachers’ welfare. The union urged both primary and secondary teachers to strike.
While acknowledging steps taken by the FCT Administration, including the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and payment of nine months’ salary arrears, the NUT said these efforts fall short of addressing deeper structural issues.
It recalled that on July 7, 2025, the minister constituted a committee to harmonise outstanding entitlements and recommend lasting solutions to recurring industrial disputes.
Although the committee submitted its report in August 2025, the union noted that it has neither been made public nor implemented, a delay it described as a major source of frustration among teachers.
According to the union, the prolonged delay, coupled with the government’s silence on teachers’ outstanding demands amid worsening economic conditions, left it with no option but to resume strike action. It stressed that teachers will remain off duty until all pending issues are addressed.
“After exhaustive deliberations on the industrial issues and the silence on the legitimate demands of teachers’ welfare, the Council resolved that all public primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT shall, with effect from Monday, proceed on an indefinite strike until our demands are met,” the union said.
Among its demands are the immediate release and implementation of the committee’s report, the removal of the vacancies tied to teachers’ promotion, and a comprehensive review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission.
The State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) also expressed dissatisfaction that, even after the ultimatum expired and an additional 28-day grace period, there had been no meaningful engagement or concrete response from the authorities.
Parents were advised to keep their children at home until further notice, as public primary and secondary schools across the FCT will remain shut for the duration of the industrial action.
Why the Government Needs to Break the Silence
Amid the growing crisis, since the strike began, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is yet to address the issue.
However, activist Aisha Yesufu has called on the FCT Minister to address the strike action in the FCT.
In a statement shared on social media, Yesufu said teachers are often forced into strikes only after exhausting all options.
She said, “Enough is enough. When teachers lay down their tools, it is never because they want to. It is because they have been pushed to the wall,” she said.
She urged Wike to demonstrate leadership by stepping in before the situation deteriorates further. “Leadership is not about silence when systems are breaking. Leadership is about stepping in before collapse becomes reality,” she added.
Yesufu highlighted that the committee report submitted since August 2025 remains unimplemented, describing it as central to resolving the crisis.
She also pointed to unresolved entitlements and stalled promotions, blaming bureaucratic bottlenecks for worsening tensions within the education sector.
Warning of the broader consequences, she noted that prolonged school closures would disproportionately affect students, particularly younger learners who rely on foundational education.
She called for immediate action, including the release and implementation of the committee’s report and reforms to the promotion process.
However, educationists warn that continued strike actions in the education system could increase the number of out-of-school children, disrupt academic calendars, cause emotional distress, reduce motivation, and increase risks of student involvement in deviant behavior.
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