NLC FCT Strike Disrupts School In Abuja

The Nigeria Labour Congress (LC) has commenced an indefinite strike in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over unresolved disputes concerning teachers’ promotions and welfare, disrupting academic activities in parts of the nation’s capital.

The industrial action began on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The LC directed workers in public and private establishments, including schools, hospitals and government offices, to withdraw their services until its demands are addressed.

The strike has affected academic activities, with several public schools reportedly shutting down and students being sent home.

Why LC Declared an Indefinite Strike in FCT

At the centre of the dispute is a promotion policy requiring teachers to wait until vacancies become available before advancing to higher positions.

The LC argues that the requirement has prevented qualified teachers from progressing in their careers despite meeting the necessary conditions for promotion.

In a statement, FCT LC Chairman Knabayi Adalo criticised the administration’s response to the union’s demands, describing it as “ambiguous, dismissive, and totally unacceptable.”

The labour union insists that teachers employed by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board and the FCT Secondary Education Board should not be subjected to promotion conditions designed for other categories of civil servants.

Beyond removing the vacancy requirement, the LC is demanding that eligible teachers excluded from the 2025 promotion exercise be allowed to participate alongside the 2026 candidates.

The congress also wants redeployment and demotion letters issued to certain education directors withdrawn and management disputes involving the territory’s education boards resolved.

Teachers Union Rejects LC Strike

However, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), FCT Chapter, has rejected the industrial action and directed its members to continue teaching.

The union’s chairman, Julius Ogundiran, described the strike as premature, arguing that industrial disputes should not unnecessarily disrupt students’ education.

ASUSS maintained that the vacancy requirement forms part of existing public service regulations and that disagreements over promotion policies should be resolved through dialogue.

The union also argued that arrangements had already been made to address outstanding promotion examinations.

Meanwhile, the FCT wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) directed its members to stay away from work, highlighting divisions among education unions over the industrial action.

Schools Face Disruption as Strike Continues

The conflicting directives have created uncertainty for teachers, students and parents across the Federal Capital Territory.

Reports on Thursday, October 8, indicated that several schools had suspended academic activities, although ASUSS maintained that its members were continuing classroom duties.

The industrial action also raises concerns about the delivery of public services following the LC’s wider directive to workers across the territory.

For now, the central disagreement remains whether the FCTA should remove the vacancy requirement governing teachers’ promotions.

The LC has insisted that its demands must be addressed, while ASUSS is advocating continued negotiations without disrupting academic activities.

The dispute places renewed pressure on the FCT Administration to reach an agreement that protects teachers’ career progression and limits further disruption to students and residents.