The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has declared an indefinite strike across the territory over unresolved issues relating to teachers’ promotion and welfare.

The industrial action commenced on Wednesday, October 7, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to address the union’s grievances.

The NLC FCT Council Chairman, Knabayi S. Adalo, announced the strike in a statement, directing workers in both the public and private sectors to withdraw their services until further notice.

The decision followed a meeting of the council’s State Executive Council held on Tuesday at Labour House, Abuja, where members resolved to proceed with the strike over what the union described as the administration’s failure to address the concerns raised in its ultimatum.

Among the union’s demands is the removal of the vacancy clause, which makes teachers’ promotion dependent on the availability of vacancies.

The NLC argued that the policy was inappropriate for teachers, who were specifically employed to teach and should be promoted when due.

The labour body also demanded that eligible teachers who missed the 2025 promotion examination be reconsidered and allowed to participate in the exercise, as well as the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors who benefited from the Harmonised Teachers Retirement Age Act, 2022.

According to the union, the FCTA’s response to its ultimatum failed to address the fundamental issues, particularly the vacancy requirement and the alleged demotion of directors.

“The FCTA’s response to our ultimatum was vague and did not address the core issue of the vacancy clause, including the unlawful demotion of directors,” Adalo said.

The council maintained that teachers should not be subjected to the vacancy-based promotion system applicable to pool officers, insisting that the practice had contributed to career stagnation and undermined the welfare of educators in the territory.

It accused the FCTA of attempting to maintain industrial harmony without resolving what it described as injustices against teachers.

“The FCTA’s attempt to sustain industrial harmony without addressing injustice is mere wishful thinking. There can be no peace without justice,” the statement added.

The NLC urged parents, residents and civil society organisations to prevail on the FCT Administration to address the outstanding issues, warning that continued failure to resolve the dispute could further undermine the education sector in the territory.

The council appealed to residents, particularly parents, to bear with workers during the industrial action, stressing that the strike would remain in force until its demands were met.

“The strike will be total and indefinite,” the union declared.