FCT NLC Suspends Strike, Workers To Resume Wednesday

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has suspended its indefinite strike over unresolved labour issues affecting teachers and other education officers in the territory.

The union directed all workers, particularly FCT teachers, to resume work on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, following fresh agreements reached with the FCT Administration (FCTA).

The decision was contained in a communiqué issued after the NLC FCT State Executive Council (SEC) meeting on October 16, which reviewed the outcome of conciliatory meetings involving the FCTA, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the NLC.

The development came two weeks after the FCT NLC declared an indefinite strike from October 7 following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCTA over promotion, career stagnation and the redeployment of school directors.

The union had demanded, among other things, the removal of the vacancy condition attached to the promotion of education officers and the reconsideration of workers who were eligible to sit for the 2025 promotion examination.

It also demanded the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors benefiting from the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.

However, following the latest round of negotiations, the NLC said it had reached resolutions on the contentious issues.

On promotion, the union said that vacancy provisions for education officers would be aligned with the establishment positions declared by the Education Secretariat.

It added that the expected exit of a sizeable number of directorate staff would create vacancies for the upward movement of officers.

For the 2025 promotion examination, the NLC said a new date would be announced to enable eligible candidates to sit for it, following approval by the FCT Executive Council.

The union also disclosed that the FCT Executive Council had directed that the redeployment of officers who were enjoying the harmonised retirement age for teachers be stepped down pending further directives.

Consequently, the SEC resolved that the indefinite strike “be and is hereby SUSPENDED with immediate effect.”

It directed all workers, particularly FCT teachers, to resume duty on Wednesday.

The NLC also resolved to constitute a monitoring committee to ensure full implementation of the agreements within the stipulated timelines.

It warned that failure to implement any of the resolutions would lead to the automatic resumption of the strike without further notice.

The council further assured workers that no employee would be victimised or subjected to any form of reprisal for participating in the industrial action.

The NLC thanked the FCTA, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the NUT FCT Wing, affiliate unions, and FCT workers for their solidarity and understanding during the strike.

It also commended FCT teachers for their “resoluteness and discipline” throughout the industrial action.