The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has declared an indefinite strike across the territory, directing workers in both the public and private sectors to withdraw their services from Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
The decision followed what the union described as the failure of the FCT Administration (FCTA) to satisfactorily address longstanding grievances affecting teachers in the territory, including promotion, career stagnation and the redeployment of school directors.
The NLC FCT Council announced the decision in a communiqué issued at the end of its State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held on Monday, October 6, 2026, at the NLC FCT Secretariat in Abuja and signed by its Chairman, Comrade Knabayi S. Adalo.
The Council said the strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCTA on September 8, 2026, over unresolved labour issues affecting FCT teachers.
Among its demands, the NLC is asking the FCTA to remove the vacancy condition for the promotion of FCT teachers and reconsider teachers who were eligible in 2025 to enable them sit for the promotion examination alongside the 2026 candidates.
The union also demanded the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors who are beneficiaries of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.
It further demanded the dissolution of the management teams of the FCT Secondary Education Board (FCT SEB) and FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB), as well as the immediate reinstatement of the affected officials.
According to the communiqué, the SEC expressed dissatisfaction with the response received from the FCTA, describing it as unclear and inadequate.
The Council said the response failed to address what it described as the fundamental issue of the vacancy clause, the root cause of career stagnation among teachers and the redeployment of directors.
The NLC said it viewed the FCTA’s position as “ambiguous and dismissive,” insisting that FCT teachers had continued to suffer career stagnation, demoralisation and humiliation despite their services to the territory.
After what it described as exhaustive deliberations, the SEC resolved that the FCTA’s response was “ambiguous and totally unacceptable.”
The Council consequently directed all workers in the FCT, including those in the public and private sectors, to commence indefinite strike action from Wednesday.
It further directed that all offices, schools, hospitals and other government establishments in the FCT remain shut until its demands are addressed.
The NLC also directed all affiliate unions in the FCT to mobilise their members for total compliance with the strike and establish enforcement committees to ensure adherence to the directive.
The Council warned that no worker should be victimised for participating in what it described as a legitimate industrial action.
It called on FCT workers to remain resolute, united and law-abiding throughout the duration of the industrial action.
The declaration is expected to affect government offices, schools, healthcare facilities and other public institutions across the Federal Capital Territory, subject to developments between labour and the FCTA.