The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has commenced an indefinite strike across the nation’s capital over unresolved disputes surrounding the promotion, career progression and welfare of teachers.
The industrial action took effect on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The NLC has directed workers in both the public and private sectors to withdraw their services until its demands are addressed.
The dispute centres largely on the FCTA’s application of a vacancy requirement for the promotion of teachers. The NLC argues that making teachers’ advancement dependent on the availability of vacant positions could leave educators on the same grade level for extended periods and undermine their career progression.
According to the labour union, teachers employed through the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) and FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) were recruited specifically to teach and should not be subjected to promotion conditions designed for core civil servants or pool officers.
The NLC is therefore demanding the immediate removal of the vacancy clause as a requirement for the promotion of FCT teachers. It also wants teachers who became eligible for promotion in 2025 to be allowed to take their promotion examinations alongside, or ahead of, the 2026 candidates.
The union has also called for the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors who are beneficiaries of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. In addition, it is demanding changes involving the management of the FCT SEB and FCT UBEB.
The NLC said its decision to commence the strike followed its assessment of the FCTA’s response to the ultimatum, which it described as ambiguous, dismissive and unacceptable. The union maintained that the administration had failed to address what it considers the fundamental issues behind the dispute.
As part of the industrial action, affiliate unions have been directed to mobilise their members, while enforcement committees are to monitor compliance across the FCT. The directive is expected to affect schools, hospitals, offices and other public establishments in the territory.
NLC FCT Council Chairman, Knabayi S. Adalo, insisted that teachers should not be treated as pool officers for the purpose of promotion and argued that the current system has contributed to career stagnation and declining morale among educators.
The labour council has appealed to parents, residents, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in the FCT to support its position and urge the administration to resolve the dispute.
The NLC warned that the continued disagreement could further disrupt the education sector in the territory, insisting that the industrial action would remain in place until its demands are satisfactorily addressed.
The FCTA had not publicly announced a resolution to the dispute as of the latest reports.
