Abuja teachers begin indefinite strike over unpaid entitlements

The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Federal Capital Territory chapter, has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Abuja to begin an indefinite strike from Monday over unresolved welfare and promotion issues.

The decision was reached after an emergency State Wing Executive Council meeting held in Gwagwalada and announced in a communiqué signed by State Chairman Abdullahi Shafa, State Secretary Margaret Jethro and State Publicity Secretary Ibukun Adekeye.

The union said teachers across the territory are expected to fully comply with the directive and await further instructions.
It also advised parents to keep their children and wards at home, warning that classrooms would remain shut until the government addresses the outstanding demands.

According to the union, the action followed the expiration of an earlier ultimatum issued to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over delays in implementing agreements reached with teachers.

The NUT acknowledged the minister’s role in approving the ₦70,000 minimum wage and paying nine months of salary arrears owed to primary school teachers, but said the key issues that led to the suspension of a 14-week strike in July 2025 had still not been resolved.

It said a committee set up in July 2025 to harmonise outstanding entitlements submitted its report in August last year, but the findings have yet to be released or implemented.

The union is also demanding the removal of the “vacancies” condition attached to teachers’ promotion and a full review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission.

“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,” the communiqué stated.