The Nigeria Labour Congress, FCT Council, has shut down activities across the Federal Capital Territory after declaring a total and indefinite strike over teachers’ welfare.
The strike started today, *Wednesday, October 7, 2026*, following a State Executive Council meeting at Labour House, Abuja, on Tuesday. The directive affects both public and private sector workers.
In a statement signed by FCT NLC Chairman, *Knabayi S. Adalo*, the council ordered all workers in the FCT to stay away from their duty posts until further notice.
Why NLC Is On Strike
The action comes after a 7-day ultimatum to the Minister of the FCT expired without resolution.
The NLC is demanding:
– Removal of vacancy precondition for promotion of FCT teachers
– Immediate promotion examination for eligible 2025 teachers
– Withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors who benefited from the Harmonised Teachers Retirement Age Act, 2022
The union described the FCTA’s response as vague and accused the administration of applying pool officers’ rules to classroom teachers.
“Teachers are not core civil servants nor pool staff and cannot be subjected to vacancy-based promotion meant for pool officers. Teachers were employed specifically to teach and should be promoted when due,” the NLC said.
“There can be no peace without justice. The FCTA’s attempt to sustain industrial harmony without addressing injustice is mere wishful thinking,” the statement added.
*What This Means For Abuja Residents*
With the strike declared total and indefinite, public schools in the FCT are expected to be shut, while compliance by private sector workers may affect other services across Abuja.
The council appealed to parents and residents to bear with workers and called on civil society to pressure the FCTA to act to save the education sector from collapse.
As of press time, the FCT Administration has not officially responded.
