FCT NLC suspends strike, teachers told to resume Wednesday
- The NLC in the FCT has suspended its indefinite strike, which began on 7 October over teachers' promotion and redeployment disputes.
- Teachers and other education workers are to return to work on Wednesday, 21 October after talks with the FCTA and Labour Ministry.
- The union says it will monitor the agreements and will resume the strike without notice if they are not implemented.
Teachers and other education workers in the Federal Capital Territory have been told to return to work on Wednesday, 21 October, after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the FCT suspended its indefinite strike.
The strike began on 7 October, after a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration (FCTA) expired without resolution of the workers' complaints.
The FCT NLC chairman, Mr Knabayi Adalo, announced the suspension in a communiqué issued in Abuja on Tuesday. He said the decision followed conciliatory talks between the union, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the FCTA management and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The resolutions were adopted at an emergency meeting of the union's State Executive Council at the Labour House in the Central Business District, Abuja.
What was agreed
The dispute centred on promotions, career stagnation and the redeployment of school directors.
On promotion, the union said vacancies for education officers will now match the establishment positions declared by the FCT Education Secretariat. It noted that an expected exit of directorate staff will open room for officers to move up.
For the 2025 promotion examination, a new date will be announced so that eligible candidates can sit the exam, after approval by the FCT Executive Council and communication to the FCT Civil Service Commission.
On the redeployment of officers covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022, the FCT Executive Council's directive to step down the process will stand until further notice.
The union also said it secured an agreement that no worker would be victimised, penalised or punished for taking part in the strike.
What happens next
The NLC said it will set up a monitoring committee to make sure the agreements are carried out within the agreed timelines.
Adalo warned that if the FCTA or other authorities fail to implement any part of the deal, the strike will resume automatically without further notice.
He thanked FCT teachers for their discipline during the action and praised the solidarity of affiliate unions, the Ministry of Labour and the FCTA management during negotiations.
