NLC Begins Indefinite Strike in FCT

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory Council, has commenced an indefinite strike across the Federal Capital Territory over unresolved issues involving the promotion and redeployment of teachers.

The industrial action began on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to address the union’s concerns.

The NLC directed workers in both the public and private sectors across the territory to withdraw their services until the issues are resolved.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the FCT Council after the labour body said the response from the FCTA did not adequately address its demands.

As part of the strike, the NLC instructed its affiliate unions to mobilise their members and ensure full compliance with the industrial action. Enforcement committees are also expected to be set up across the territory.

Government offices, schools, hospitals and other public establishments are expected to remain closed during the strike.

The dispute centres mainly on the promotion of teachers in the FCT. The NLC had earlier demanded that the requirement for available vacancies should not be used as a condition for promoting teachers.

The union also wants teachers who qualified for promotion in 2025 to be allowed to take their promotion examinations before or together with those scheduled for the 2026 exercise.

Another demand concerns directors who were affected by redeployment and demotion after becoming beneficiaries of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. The labour body is seeking the withdrawal of the affected letters.

The NLC is also demanding changes in the management of the FCT education system. It wants the management teams of the FCT State Education Board and the FCT Universal Basic Education Board dissolved and the affected officials reinstated.

According to the labour body, the continued use of vacancy requirements for teachers’ promotion has prevented many teachers from progressing in their careers despite meeting the necessary conditions.

The union argued that teachers were employed primarily to teach and should not be treated in the same manner as general civil service workers who may be affected by available positions within the system.

The NLC said the FCTA’s response did not resolve the main issues behind the dispute, particularly the promotion policy and the situation involving affected education directors.

The labour body said the unresolved matters had created frustration among teachers and affected their career progression.

It further directed workers not to report to their duty posts from October 7 until further notice.

The NLC also warned against victimisation of workers who participate in the strike, while calling on parents, civil society groups, members of the public and other stakeholders to encourage the FCTA to resolve the dispute.

The union said the strike would continue indefinitely until its demands concerning teachers and the wider education system in the FCT are addressed.