Public primary and secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are set for a total shutdown as teachers have resolved to commence an indefinite strike action from Monday, April 20, 2026.
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This drastic decision was reached on Friday at an emergency meeting of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, held at the FCT Teachers’ House in Gwagwalada.
The strike is a culmination of a protracted dispute over unmet welfare demands and the alleged failure of the FCT authorities to implement the report of a committee set up nearly nine months ago to find a permanent solution to recurrent industrial crises in the Territory.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the state chairman, Comrade Abdullahi M. Shafa; the state secretary, Comrade Margaret F. Jethro, and the state publicity secretary, Comrade Ibukun Adekeye, and issued at the end of the meeting, the union stated that the council reviewed a seven-day ultimatum issued to the minister of the FCT on March 11, 2026, which expired on March 19.
The union had granted an additional 28-day grace period, which has also elapsed without what it termed a “tangible response.”
“The SWEC-In-Session is disturbed that following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum on 19th March 2026, including the additional twenty-eight-day grace period granted to the authorities, there has been no tangible response from the authorities to all the industrial issues raised in our ultimatum,” the communiqué read.
The union’s key demands included the immediate release and implementation of the report by a committee constituted by the minister on July 7, 2025.
The committee was mandated to harmonise all outstanding entitlements of primary school teachers within two weeks and propose lasting solutions.
“The committee concluded its assignment and submitted its report in August 2025, however, the report is yet to be made public,” the teachers noted, expressing concern over the unexplained delay.
Secondly, the NUT demanded the removal of a “vacancies” precondition for teacher promotions and a total review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission to allow for the unhindered promotion of eligible teachers.
The council acknowledged the minister’s past interventions, particularly regarding the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and the payment of nine months’ arrears to primary school teachers, which led to the suspension of a 14-week strike in July 2025.
However, the communiqué stated pointedly that, “The Council noted with concern that the minister’s intervention, is yet to be addressed.”
Concluding that the authorities’ silence constituted a threat to the stability of education in the Territory, the SWEC resolved to proceed with an indefinite strike.
“The Union hereby directs all Public Primary and Secondary School Teachers in the FCT to comply with this directive and await further instructions from the Union,” the statement declared.
In a direct message to residents, the union advised, “Parents are hereby advised to keep their children and wards in Primary and Secondary Schools safe at home until further notice.”
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