The State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has announced an indefinite strike for all public primary and secondary school teachers, effective Monday. This decision stems from unresolved welfare and promotion issues that have persisted despite previous attempts to address them. The directive was communicated through a statement signed by State Chairman Abdullahi Shafa, State Secretary Margaret Jethro, and State Publicity Secretary Ibukun Adekeye. It follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, which was subsequently extended by an additional 28 days without any official response.
Key grievances cited by the union include the delayed implementation of a committee report regarding outstanding teacher entitlements and the removal of prerequisites for promotion “vacancies.” Additionally, the union has called for a comprehensive review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission to ensure that eligible teachers can advance without hindrance. While SWEC acknowledged the minister’s efforts in implementing the N70,000 minimum wage and addressing nine months of salary arrears for primary school teachers, it expressed concern over the lack of progress on other longstanding demands.
A ministerial committee, established on July 7, 2025, to harmonize outstanding entitlements and resolve recurring industrial disputes, completed its work in August; however, its findings have yet to be made public. SWEC has warned that teachers will remain at home until all their demands are met and has advised parents to keep their children safe at home during the strike period. The decision to strike was influenced by the government’s continued silence amid challenging economic conditions affecting teachers in the FCT. This strike follows a 14-week industrial action in 2024, which was suspended after Wike’s intervention. With no substantial response to the renewed ultimatum, the union has escalated its industrial action to seek a permanent resolution to the issues impacting FCT teachers.
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