The Federal Capital Territory Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered workers across Abuja to begin an indefinite strike on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following unresolved disputes involving teachers.
The directive covers workers in both the public and private sectors, with the union demanding action from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over promotion, career progression and the redeployment of some school directors.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued after the council’s State Executive Council meeting held on Monday, October 6, at the NLC FCT Secretariat in Abuja.
The communiqué was signed by the council chairman, Comrade Knabayi S. Adalo.
According to the NLC, the industrial action became necessary after a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued to the FCTA expired without what the union considered a satisfactory resolution of the teachers’ concerns.
The ultimatum, issued on September 8, centred on several employment-related issues affecting teachers in the territory.
One of the union’s major demands is the removal of the vacancy requirement attached to the promotion of FCT teachers.
It also wants teachers who qualified for promotion in 2025 to be given another opportunity to take the promotion examination alongside eligible candidates in 2026.
The congress is equally seeking the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters given to directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.
It further called for the dissolution of the management teams of the FCT Secondary Education Board and the FCT Universal Basic Education Board, alongside the immediate reinstatement of the affected officials.
The NLC said the response it received from the FCTA did not adequately deal with the issues raised by workers.
According to the council, the administration failed to resolve the vacancy clause, which it identified as a major factor behind career stagnation among teachers, as well as concerns surrounding the redeployment of directors.
The union described the FCTA’s position as “ambiguous and dismissive,” arguing that teachers in the territory had continued to experience career stagnation, demoralisation and humiliation despite their contributions to the education sector.
Following its deliberations, the council also concluded that the administration’s response was “ambiguous and totally unacceptable.”
It consequently directed workers across the FCT to withdraw their services indefinitely from Wednesday.
Under the directive, offices, schools, hospitals and other government establishments are expected to remain closed until the union’s demands are addressed.
Affiliate unions have also been instructed to mobilise their members for full participation in the industrial action and establish enforcement committees to monitor compliance.
The NLC warned against victimising any worker who joins the strike, maintaining that the action is a legitimate exercise of workers’ rights.
It also urged workers to remain united, peaceful and law-abiding throughout the industrial action.
The strike could disrupt activities in government offices, schools, healthcare facilities and other institutions across the FCT as the dispute between organised labour and the FCTA continues.
