BREAKING: NLC declares indefinite strike in FCT
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced an indefinite strike in Abuja due to unresolved issues regarding the promotion and career advancement of teachers.
The strike is set to begin on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Administration (FCTA). The NLC initially presented this ultimatum on September 8, 2026, seeking to resolve ongoing welfare disputes affecting educators in the region.
In a statement signed by Comrade Knabayi S. Adalo, the chairman of the NLC FCT Council, the union rejected the FCTA’s response to their ultimatum, labeling it as “ambiguous, dismissive and totally unacceptable.”
Central to the conflict is the FCTA’s implementation of a “vacancy clause,” which links teacher promotions to the availability of positions. The NLC contends that teachers are recruited specifically by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) and the FCT Secondary Education Board (FCT SEB), distinguishing them from core civil servants or pool staff.
The union has argued that promotion practices based on vacancies apply only to pool officers, asserting that such policies have resulted in significant career stagnation and reduced morale among educators.
