Public school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory have commenced an indefinite strike over unmet demands, leaving classrooms across the capital deserted.
A visit to several schools on Monday, including LEA Primary School, Area 10, Garki, and Government Science Technical College, Area 3, Garki, showed empty premises with neither students nor teachers present.
The industrial action follows a directive issued by the FCT Wing Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), which instructed all primary and secondary school teachers to withdraw services effective Monday.
The decision was contained in a communiqué signed by the State Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa, the State Secretary, Margaret Jethro, and the State Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.
According to the union, the strike followed an emergency State Wing Executive Council meeting convened to review a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on March 11, which expired on March 29 without resolution.
The teachers said the action became necessary due to what they described as continued silence on their demands, despite worsening economic conditions affecting workers in the territory.
They stressed that the strike would remain indefinite until their grievances are addressed by the relevant authorities.
A previous engagement with stakeholders had failed to resolve the issues, leading to the total shutdown of academic activities in government-owned schools across the FCT.
As of Monday, school gates remained locked in several locations, with students turned back or kept away by the absence of teaching staff.
The development has raised concerns among parents and guardians, as the disruption affects academic calendars and ongoing term activities.
Union leaders insisted that the strike is a last resort aimed at compelling government attention to longstanding welfare and operational issues affecting teachers in the capital.
