Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have ordered the shutdown of all public primary and secondary schools, directing members to commence an indefinite strike starting Monday over unresolved welfare issues.
The directive was issued by the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers following an emergency meeting held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Friday.
In a communique jointly signed by State Chairman Abdullahi Shafa, State Secretary Margaret Jethro, and State Publicity Secretary Ibukun Adekeye, the union instructed teachers to comply fully with the strike directive and await further instructions.
The union also advised parents and guardians to keep their children at home until further notice, stressing that academic activities in public schools would remain suspended until their demands are addressed.
According to the communique, the decision followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on March 11, which expired on March 29 without what the union described as a satisfactory response.
SWEC acknowledged the FCT Administration’s previous steps, including the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and payment of nine months’ arrears to primary school teachers.
However, it said key outstanding issues remained unresolved.
The union recalled that a ministerial committee was set up on July 7, 2025, with a two-week mandate to harmonise all outstanding entitlements of primary school teachers and propose lasting solutions to recurring industrial disputes.
“The committee concluded its assignment and submitted its report in August 2025, however, the report is yet to be made public,” the union stated.
It added that the continued delay in implementing the committee’s recommendations, alongside what it described as government silence, left teachers with no option but to proceed with industrial action.
The union is also demanding the removal of the “vacancies” requirement for teacher promotions and a review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission, insisting that eligible teachers should not be denied career progression.
After what it called exhaustive deliberations, SWEC resolved that all teachers in public schools across the FCT would withdraw their services indefinitely until all demands are fully met, warning that the action would continue without a fixed end date.
