FCT workers begin indefinite strike over teachers’ promotion dispute

The Federal Capital Territory Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress has begun an indefinite strike over unresolved disputes with the FCT Administration involving teachers’ promotions and other employment issues.

The industrial action took effect on Wednesday, October 7, following the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the FCT Administration.

FCT NLC Chairman Knabayi Adalo announced the strike in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of the council’s State Executive Council.

The union directed its affiliates across the FCT to withdraw their services until its demands are addressed.

Teachers’ promotion policy at centre of dispute

One of the main issues is the FCTA’s use of a vacancy clause as a condition for promoting teachers.

Under the arrangement, teachers may only progress to certain positions where approved vacancies exist.

The NLC argues that this system has resulted in career stagnation and demoralisation among teachers.

It maintains that teachers employed specifically by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board and FCT Secondary Education Board should not be treated in the same way as general civil-service pool officers for promotion purposes.

The union is demanding that the vacancy requirement be removed from teachers’ promotion procedures.

NLC lists other demands

The FCT labour council is also demanding the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to some directors working under agencies in the Education Secretariat.

The affected officials had benefited from provisions of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.

The NLC also wants teachers who were eligible for promotion in 2025 to be allowed to participate in promotion examinations alongside or before the 2026 batch.

It further raised concerns about management changes involving the FCT Secondary Education Board and Universal Basic Education Board.

FCTA says Wike ordered action on some complaints

The FCT Administration had responded before the strike.

FCT Head of Civil Service Nancy Nathan said in a September 29 letter that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had ordered a stay of action concerning some of the disputed matters.

The minister also directed the FCT Civil Service Commission to reschedule the 2025 promotion examination for affected education officers and indicated that other outstanding issues would be addressed.

The NLC, however, said the response did not adequately deal with the disputed redeployment of senior directors or resolve the vacancy-clause issue.

Adalo consequently directed schools, hospitals, offices and government establishments affected by the union action to remain closed until the dispute is resolved.

Affiliate unions in public and private sectors were also directed to mobilise members for the strike, although the directive itself should not be interpreted as confirmation that every private business in Abuja has shut down.

Strike follows nationwide warning action

The FCT dispute comes days after public-sector unions organised a three-day nationwide warning strike over separate demands involving petrol prices, wage relief and preparations for a new national minimum wage.

That nationwide warning action ran from October 2 to October 4.

The current FCT indefinite strike, however, is focused primarily on the unresolved teachers’ promotion and employment disputes between organised labour and the FCT Administration.