FCT Teachers to Commmence Indefinite Strike Monday Over Unpaid Entitlements and Promotion Stagnation

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) declares an indefinite strike in the FCT over unpaid entitlements and promotion issues, affecting all public schools.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 8:19 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politics Nigeria

Classroom Shutdown Looms as Union Withdraws Services

Academic activities across the Federal Capital Territory are expected to come to a complete halt as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) prepares for an indefinite strike starting Monday. The decision, reached during an emergency meeting in Gwagwalada, affects all public primary and secondary schools within the six area councils of Abuja. According to NUT State Wing Chairman Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, the union was forced to withdraw services after exhausting all diplomatic channels with the FCT Administration. The strike coincides with the scheduled resumption of the second term, threatening to disrupt the academic calendar indefinitely.

Failure to Implement 2025 Welfare Report

The primary catalyst for the industrial action is the non-implementation of a critical committee report commissioned by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike in July 2025. This committee was tasked with resolving chronic issues regarding unpaid entitlements and general welfare concerns for primary school teachers. Despite the report being submitted several months ago, union officials allege that the administration has failed to release or act upon the recommendations. This perceived negligence has led to deep-seated frustration among the teaching workforce, who claim their professional well-being has been ignored by the current leadership.

Controversial Promotion Requirements Under Fire

Teachers are also demanding a significant overhaul of the current promotion structure, specifically the removal of the “vacancy” requirement. The NUT argues that making advancement contingent on available vacancies is inherently unfair to classroom teachers who have already fulfilled all necessary professional criteria. This policy has reportedly led to years of stagnation for qualified educators. The union is calling for a comprehensive review of promotion exercises dating back to 2004, seeking to rectify what they describe as a long-standing injustice in the career progression of FCT educators.