FCT teachers begin indefinite strike Monday

The State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has directed primary and secondary school teachers to begin an indefinite strike on Monday, April 20, 2026.

The union gave the directive in a communique issued at the end of an emergency SWEC meeting in Abuja on Friday.

The communique was jointly signed by the State Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa; the State Secretary, Margaret Jethro; and the State Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.

In the communique, made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, the union directed the teachers to comply with the directive and await further instructions.

It further advised parents to keep their children and wards in primary and secondary schools safe at home until further notice.

The NUT said teachers would remain at home until all their demands are met.

The union explained that the decision was the outcome of the SWEC meeting, convened to review the seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on March 11, which expired on March 29.

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It said the SWEC appreciated Wike for the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and payment of the nine months arrears to the primary school teachers in the FCT.

The NUT, however, said the council noted with concern that the minister’s intervention, which facilitated the suspension of the 14-week strike on July 9, 2025, was yet to be addressed.

The union said: “The Minister constituted a committee on July 7, 2025 with a mandate to, within two weeks, harmonise all outstanding entitlements of primary school teachers.

“The committee was also directed to make appropriate recommendations that would lead to a permanent solution to the frequent industrial disputes involving FCT Primary School Teachers.

“The committee concluded its assignment and submitted its report in August 2025, however, the report is yet to be made public.

“After exhaustive deliberations on the industrial issues and the silence on the legitimate demands of teachers’ welfare, the council resolved that all public primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT shall, with effect from Monday, proceed on an indefinite strike until our demands are met.”