The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared an indefinite strike in Abuja over unresolved disputes concerning the promotion and career progression of teachers.
The industrial action commenced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Administration (FCTA).
The NLC had issued the ultimatum on September 8, demanding urgent action on longstanding welfare and career-related issues affecting teachers in the FCT.
In a communique signed by the NLC FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Knabayi S. Adalo, the union rejected the FCTA’s response to the ultimatum, describing it as “ambiguous, dismissive and totally unacceptable.”
At the centre of the dispute is the implementation of a “vacancy clause” by the FCTA, which makes the promotion of teachers subject to the availability of vacancies.
The NLC faulted the policy, arguing that teachers are specifically recruited by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) and the FCT Secondary Education Board (FCT SEB) to teach and should therefore not be treated like core civil servants or pool staff.
The union maintained that vacancy-based promotion policies were designed for pool officers and should not apply to teachers recruited specifically for classroom duties.
According to the NLC, the policy has resulted in prolonged career stagnation, frustration and declining morale among teachers in the nation’s capital.
The union called for the immediate resolution of the dispute, stressing that the promotion and career progression of teachers should not be tied to the availability of vacant positions.
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