The Federal Capital Territory Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress has declared an indefinite strike across the FCT over a dispute with the FCT Administration concerning teachers’ promotion policies.

The strike, which began on Wednesday, October 7, followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Administration. The NLC directed workers in the public and private sectors to shut down schools, hospitals, government offices and other establishments.

According to the NLC, the FCT Administration failed to satisfactorily address its demands, particularly its opposition to the requirement that vacancies must exist before teachers can be promoted.

The labour council argued that the policy has contributed to prolonged career stagnation among teachers and should not apply to the teaching profession.

In resolutions signed by its chairman, Knabayi Adalo, the NLC said teachers employed by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board and FCT Secondary Education Board were recruited specifically to teach and should therefore be promoted as and when due.

The council also demanded that teachers who became eligible for promotion in 2025 be allowed to take their promotion examinations before or alongside the 2026 candidates.

Other demands include the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors affected by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.

The NLC is also calling for the immediate reinstatement of the dissolved management teams of the FCT Secondary Education Board and FCT Universal Basic Education Board.

The decision to commence the strike was reached at the council’s State Executive Council meeting held on October 6 at the NLC FCT Secretariat.

The council rejected the FCT Administration’s response to its ultimatum, describing it as unclear and unacceptable. It said the response failed to address the vacancy requirement, which it described as the root cause of teachers’ career stagnation.

The NLC also accused the FCTA of remaining silent on what it described as the illegal redeployment of directors.

The labour council said it would no longer tolerate policies it considers detrimental to FCT teachers.