NLC declares indefinite FCT strike as FG moves to avert varsity shutdown

From **Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye **and Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared an indefinite strike over teachers’ promotion and redeployment, directing public and private sector workers to withdraw their services, while the Federal Government has released eight months’ salary arrears in a bid to avert a separate strike in universities.

The NLC directed workers across the territory to stay away from their duty posts from Wednesday, October 7, and ordered offices, schools, hospitals and other government establishments to remain shut until its demands were addressed.

The Federal Government’s intervention in the university dispute came less than 48 hours after the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) issued a 14-day ultimatum, although the union maintained that other outstanding entitlements remained unpaid.

In a communiqué issued after its State Executive Council meeting on October 6 and signed by its chairman, Knabayi Adalo, the NLC FCT Council described the administration’s response to its demands as “ambiguous and totally unacceptable”.

The council said its action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). It directed affiliate unions to mobilise members for full compliance and establish enforcement committees, describing the strike as “total and indefinite”.

At the centre of the dispute is the demand for the removal of the vacancy requirement for teachers’ promotion, which the union blamed for career stagnation.

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

It further sought the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.

“Teachers in the FCT continue to suffer career stagnation, demoralisation, and humiliation despite their selfless service,” the communiqué stated.

The council argued that teachers were recruited specifically to teach and should not be subjected to promotion conditions designed for pool officers in the civil service.

“Teachers are neither core civil servants nor pool staff and cannot be subjected to vacancy-based promotion schemes meant for pool officers,” it said.

“There can be no peace without justice,” the council declared.

However, FCTA Head of the Civil Service, Mrs Nancy Nathan, had, in a September 29 letter, informed the union that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike directed a stay of action on the concerns raised and the rescheduling of the 2025 promotion examination for affected education officers.

The NLC maintained that the response did not resolve the vacancy clause or adequately address the redeployment of affected directors.

It warned against victimising workers participating in the strike and appealed to parents, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to prevail on the administration to resolve the dispute.

Meanwhile, SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim, in a statement on Wednesday, confirmed the release of funds for eight months’ salary arrears and commended Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, for securing them.

He urged members to liaise with their university managements to ensure prompt payment and report any shortfall to the union.

SSANU had issued its ultimatum after its 56th National Executive Council meeting at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, demanding implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement and payment of arrears calculated from January 1, 2026.

It warned that failure to meet its demands within 14 days would trigger a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike without further notice.

Ibrahim said constructive engagement, backed by prompt action, could preserve industrial harmony and protect workers’ welfare.

According to the union, Alausa had, before the ultimatum, contacted Ibrahim to confirm that the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were processing the funds.

SSANU, however, demanded payment of two months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 industrial action and one-year arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.

It described the payments as legitimate entitlements that should not be subjected to further delay.

The union also urged state governments and governing councils of state-owned universities to ensure full, equitable and adequately funded implementation of the agreement, warning that selective or delayed implementation could trigger fresh unrest.

While reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and industrial peace, SSANU said it would deploy all lawful and constitutional means to protect members’ rights and welfare where agreements were not faithfully implemented.

The post NLC declares indefinite FCT strike as FG moves to avert varsity shutdown appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.