FCT Teachers Declare Indefinite Strike from April 20 

Public school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will begin an indefinite strike on Monday, April 20, 2026, following a directive from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

The industrial action is set to affect both primary and secondary schools across all six area councils in Abuja, effectively halting classroom activities.

The decision was reached after an emergency meeting of the union’s State Wing Executive Council held at the Teachers House in Gwagwalada. After hours of deliberation, the council resolved to withdraw services until the FCT Administration addresses lingering welfare issues.

Speaking after the meeting, FCT NUT Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, said the strike was unavoidable, noting that all attempts at dialogue with authorities had failed.

At the heart of the dispute is the non-implementation of a committee report established on July 7, 2025, to address unpaid entitlements and other concerns affecting primary school teachers. Months after the committee submitted its findings, the report has neither been released nor acted upon.

Shafas also highlighted ongoing issues such as delayed promotions and irregular salary structures. He criticized the use of “vacancy” as a requirement for promotion, describing it as unjust to teachers who have already met professional standards.

The union is demanding the removal of the vacancy condition and a comprehensive review of the 2004 promotion exercise, which it says has left many qualified teachers stagnated for years.

According to the NUT, a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Administration expired on March 19, 2026, followed by an additional 28-day grace period. The union said the government failed to respond or engage meaningfully within that timeframe.

“The meeting resolved that all public primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT shall, with effect from Monday, April 20, 2026, proceed on an indefinite strike until the demands of the union are met,” Shafas said.

Teachers have been directed to fully comply with the strike order, while parents and guardians have been advised to keep their children at home as academic activities will be suspended.

The strike is expected to significantly disrupt the academic calendar, as public schools in the FCT are scheduled to resume for the second term on the same day the action begins.