The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared an indefinite strike in Abuja over unresolved disputes regarding teachers’ promotion and career progression.
The industrial action commenced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The union had previously served notice on September 8, 2026, demanding the resolution of long-standing welfare grievances affecting educators in the FCT.
In a statement signed by Comrade Knabayi S. Adalo, Chairman of the NLC FCT Council, the union rejected the FCTA’s response to the ultimatum, describing it as “ambiguous, contemptuous, and absolutely unacceptable.”
The FCTA’s installation of a “vacancy clause,” which limits teacher promotions to open positions, is at the heart of the controversy.
The FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) and the FCT Secondary Education Board (FCT SEB) explicitly hire instructors to educate, according to the NLC, distinguishing them from core public servants or pool staff.
The union maintained that pool officers were subject to vacancy-based promotion programs, pointing out that this practice had severely stagnated and demoralized educators’ careers.
The NLC asserted that the vacancy-based promotion model applied to general civil service pool officers should not be imposed on FCT teachers, arguing that educators are recruited specifically to teach and ought to be promoted upon eligibility.
The union further accused the FCT Administration of prioritizing industrial harmony while disregarding what it described as persistent injustice against teachers.
While appealing to FCT residents and parents for patience during the industrial action, the council urged civil society groups and the public to prevail upon the administration to address the educators’ grievances.
Backstory…
The NLC strike comes just few days Public sector workers operating under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) initiated a three-day warning strike spanning October 2 to October 4, 2026, citing worsening economic and psychological hardship impacting workers and their families.
The nationwide industrial action commenced at midnight on Friday, October 2, and is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, October 4.
In a directive signed by National Secretary Gbenga Olowoyo on October 1, 2026, the council instructed national and state chapter leaders to mobilize workers and ensure comprehensive compliance across all government offices.
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