FCT Teachers Set to Begin Indefinite Strike Monday Over Unpaid Entitlements and Promotion Hurdles

FCT teachers to embark on an indefinite strike from April 20, 2026, over unpaid entitlements and promotion issues, disrupting the new school term.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 6:43 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Trust

A Stand Against Administrative Silence

In a decisive move following an emergency State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting in Gwagwalada, the FCT wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has declared an indefinite strike across all six area councils. Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, the FCT NUT chairman, informed journalists that the union’s leadership feels ignored by the FCT Administration. The strike is a direct response to the government's failure to release and implement a critical report concerning teachers' long-overdue financial entitlements.

Dispute Over Promotion Criteria

Beyond financial arrears, the union is demanding significant changes to the administrative treatment of educators. Specifically, the NUT is calling for the removal of "vacancy" as a mandatory precondition for the promotion of classroom teachers. Shafas argued that teachers should be able to advance based on merit and years of service rather than waiting for an administrative opening. Furthermore, the union is seeking a comprehensive review of the 2004 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission to ensure that eligible teachers are no longer hindered by outdated bureaucratic roadblocks.

The Stalled Committee Report

The roots of the current dispute trace back to July 2025, when FCT Minister Nyesom Wike established a committee to harmonize primary school teachers' entitlements. Although the committee submitted its report in August 2025—designed to provide a lasting solution to recurring industrial disputes—the findings have not been made public, and no recommendations have been implemented. The NUT leadership highlighted that despite granting a seven-day ultimatum followed by a 28-day grace period, the FCT Administration has maintained a "continued silence" on the matter.