The Nigeria Labour Congress, Federal Capital Territory Council, has directed all workers in the FCT Administration, including those in the private sector, to begin an indefinite strike. This decision follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Minister of the FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike. The ultimatum was given over unresolved labour disputes and policy grievances affecting teachers in the territory.
The council chairman, Mr. Knabayi Adalo, announced the strike in a communique issued after an emergency State Executive Council meeting. Adalo explained that the industrial action became necessary due to the FCT Administration's failure to meet the workers' demands. One of the demands is the abolition of the vacancy precondition for teachers' promotions, which has caused career stagnation and demoralization among teachers.
The NLC is also demanding the immediate withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors in agencies under the Education Secretariat. These directors were beneficiaries of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. Additionally, the union wants the reconsideration of 2025 eligible teachers to sit for their promotion examination alongside the 2026 batch.
The FCT Administration's response to the workers' demands has been deemed unsatisfactory by the NLC. The Head of the Civil Service, FCTA, Mrs. Nancy Nathan, had informed the union that Mr. Wike directed a stay of action over the concerns raised. However, the labour leader, Mr. Adalo, said the response ignored the illegal redeployment of senior directors and offered no meaningful solution to the controversial vacancy clause.
The NLC chairman expressed dissatisfaction with the FCT Administration's position, describing it as neither positive, clear nor genuine. As a result, all schools, hospitals, offices, and government establishments across the FCTA will remain closed until all the union's demands are met. Affiliate industrial unions in both the public and private sectors have been directed to ensure total compliance among their members.
Special enforcement committees are being established across sectors to monitor compliance with the strike directive. Mr. Adalo called on all FCT workers to remain resolute and assured them that no individual would face victimization for participating in the legitimate industrial action. The strike is aimed at addressing the dehumanization of FCT teachers through obnoxious policies alien to the teaching profession.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has vowed to continue pushing for the resolution of the labour disputes and policy grievances affecting teachers in the FCT. The union's demands are focused on improving the working conditions and welfare of teachers in the territory. The strike is expected to have significant impacts on the FCT Administration and the education sector.
Key points
- - The Nigeria Labour Congress has ordered an indefinite strike for workers in the FCT Administration. - The strike is over unresolved labour disputes and policy grievances affecting teachers. - The union's demands include the abolition of the vacancy precondition for teachers' promotions.
