Directors and school administrators within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) education system have accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of victimization following their reassignment from leadership roles to classroom teaching positions in junior secondary schools (JSS).
Affected education officers raised concerns over what they characterized as illegal redeployments, denial of rightful promotions, and politically motivated actions targeting teachers and school administrators.
Speaking to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, one affected director confirmed that approximately 360 education officers—including principals, deputy principals, deputy directors, and directors—were impacted by the policy shift.
The affected director, who turns 60 in November, highlighted that the situation is particularly concerning as it affects officers at varying stages of the service extension process.
According to the source, FCT authorities stated that officers scheduled for retirement between October and December would be excluded from the service elongation program.
The director questioned the basis for redeploying active directors, emphasizing that the policy allowing teachers to retire at age 65 or after 40 years of service contains no provision requiring the demotion of officers seeking service extensions.
The source added that while affected education officers have officially received their reassignment letters, they are appealing to authorities for an immediate review of the decision.
Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Reacts
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT State Secretariat, has condemned the minister’s actions and urged educators to disregard directives from the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) calling on them to break the indefinite strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
In an official statement, the union instructed primary and secondary school teachers across the Federal Capital Territory to maintain full compliance with the industrial action, which commenced on October 7, 2026, and to ignore UBEB’s counter-directive.
Reaffirming the legality of the strike, the NUT stated that workers possess the fundamental right to engage in industrial action once due process is observed, declaring the NLC’s strike order legitimate and binding on all members.
Additionally, the NUT contended that teachers should not face penalties for following union guidelines. It demanded that rather than intimidating employees, the appropriate authorities deal with the problems that led to the industrial action.
The union’s main requests were to end the 2023, 2024, and 2025 promotion exercises, remove the vacancy clause that affected instructors’ promotions, and formally reinstate directors who had been demoted or redeployed.
It urged the authorities to work with the unions to find a long-term solution, arguing that intimidation and threats would not end the conflict.
Backstory…
Meanwhile, recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has directed all public and private sector workers across the territory to commence an indefinite strike over unresolved labor grievances affecting FCT teachers.
The strike order follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Minister regarding key union demands, including career progression pathways, unpaid teacher promotions, and the alleged illegal redeployment of senior school directors.
Read Also: FCT NLC Begins Indefinite Strike Over Teachers’ Promotion, Says FCTA’s Reply Is “Dismissive”
