FCT teachers to resume Wednesday as NLC suspends strike
- The Nigeria Labour Congress in the FCT has suspended its indefinite strike by teachers and education workers.
- The union directed all workers to resume on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, after agreements with the FCT Administration.
- The strike began on October 7 over promotion, career stagnation and redeployment issues.
Teachers in primary and secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are to return to classrooms on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, after the FCT Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) suspended its indefinite strike.
The suspension was contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency State Executive Council meeting of the NLC FCT Council held on Friday, October 16 at the Labour House, Abuja, under the leadership of Comrade Stephen Knabayi. Our reporter obtained a copy of the communiqué late Tuesday night.
The strike, which began on October 7, followed a seven-day ultimatum the NLC gave the FCT Administration over promotion, career stagnation and the redeployment of school directors. Teachers under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the six area councils joined the action.
The union said the suspension followed talks involving the FCT Administration, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the NUT and the NLC, which produced documented resolutions.
What was agreed
On promotion, the NLC said vacancies for education officers will be based on establishment positions declared by the Education Secretariat. It noted that a sizeable number of directorate staff are expected to leave the service soon, creating room for officers to move up.
For the 2025 promotion examination, the FCT Civil Service Commission will be notified of the Executive Council’s approval, and a new date will be announced so eligible candidates can sit the exam.
On the redeployment of officers enjoying the harmonised retirement age for teachers, the NLC said the matter has been stepped down pending further directives.
The NLC also assured workers that no employee would be victimised or face any form of reprisal for taking part in the strike.
“All workers, particularly FCT teachers, are directed to resume work on Wednesday, October 21, 2026,” the communiqué said. The NLC FCT Council will set up a monitoring committee to ensure the resolutions are fully implemented within agreed timelines.
The union warned that failure to implement any of the resolutions would lead to an automatic resumption of the strike without further notice.
What happens next
Schools are expected to reopen on Wednesday. Parents and pupils should confirm with their schools, while the monitoring committee tracks the promises made to teachers.
