Youth groups demand suspension of FCT teachers’ strike

By Philomina Attah

The Abuja Resident Youth Association (ARYA) and the League of Civil Society Groups have demanded immediate suspension of the indefinite strike declared by teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

They made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a joint news confrence on the effects and implications of the industrial action across the six area councils of the FCT.

The news conference was convened by Amb. Akoshile Mukhtar, President of ARYA, and Mr Mohammed Basah, President of the League of Civil Society Groups.

The groups, who described the action as disproportionate, said it punishes children for administrative disputes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that teachers in the FCT, under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), declared the indefinite strike over three demands.

The demands are removal of the vacancy requirement for teachers’ promotion and recall of teachers affected by the halted 2025 promotion exercise to write their promotion examination.

The other demand is reversal of the redeployment of directors and principals who are beneficiaries of the extended service arrangement from administrative offices to classrooms.

NAN reports that the FCT Administration had extended teachers’ retirement age to 65 years and 40 years in service, but directed that some principals and directors who had overstayed in administrative positions be redeployed to classrooms to create vacancies for younger teachers.

Labour leaders, however, rejected the move, prompting the shutdown of schools, hospitals and other public establishments.

However, cracks have emerged within the teachers’ ranks as the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), FCT chapter, in a notice disowned the strike.

ASUSS directed its members to remain at their duty posts and prepare for the 2026 Computer-Based Promotion Examination scheduled for Oct. 5 to Oct. 13.

Similarly, a Coalition of Concerned FCT Teachers has questioned the rationale for the strike.

Speaking at the briefing, Mukhtar said while teachers deserve fair career progression, children must not become the price for securing it.

“This is the same union that held our children at home for three to four months.

“We cannot go back to that era where our children will be at home and cannot compete with their colleagues,” he said.

Mukhtar alleged that the strike was politically motivated.

He said the association would from Thursday constitute a voluntary team to monitor schools across the FCT to ensure resumption of teaching and learning.

“Politics is different from professionalism. UBEB has even pulled out of this drama,” he added.

Also speaking, Mr Faruk Onimisi, a member of FCT NUT, said many teachers were caught unawares by the strike.
“As at 10 p.m. yesterday, I had concluded my lesson plan. This morning, students were asking why there is no school.

“We saw only a forwarded WhatsApp message directing teachers to embark on strike,” he said.

Onimisi said two of the three demands had been substantially addressed, noting that the FCT Civil Service Commission had reviewed the vacancy clause and had directed affected 2025 candidates to join the 2026 promotion examination.

“Out of the three issues presented, two have been resolved. So where is this strike coming from?

“Look at the last WAEC result that was released, FCT performed woefully. Unnecessary strikes will not solve these issues,” he said.

He argued that redeployment of elongated officers was necessary to free vacancies and that many beneficiaries above 60 years who were classroom teachers had accepted their postings without complaint.

Earlier, Basah said promotion in public service was subject to merit and availability of vacancies as provided in Public Service Rule 020701(e).

He urged the FCTA to publish the applicable promotion framework, eligibility requirements, vacancies and implementation timelines.

He also demanded uninterrupted access to promotion examinations for eligible teachers, transparent review of disputed redeployments and meaningful participation of parents in discussions on school disruption.

“We support teachers’ welfare, not an indefinite shutdown. We support teachers’ dignity, but choosing to protect the classroom does not make a teacher an enemy of organised labour,” he said.

Basah called for an urgent negotiating meeting involving the FCTA, Civil Service Commission, education boards, NLC, NUT and ASUSS to resolve outstanding issues.(NAN)

Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi