The FCT teachers’ strike has taken a new turn after the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) directed teachers in the Federal Capital Territory to resume their duties despite the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) declaring an indefinite strike.
The development followed a disagreement between labour leaders and the FCT Administration over issues surrounding teachers’ promotion, career progression and other concerns within the education sector. While the NLC wants the FCT Administration to address its demands through industrial action, ASUSS has rejected the strike and asked its members to continue working.
NLC Declares Indefinite Strike in FCT
The NLC commenced an indefinite strike in the FCT on Wednesday, October 7, after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Administration.
The labour body had raised concerns about the promotion of teachers and other education workers, particularly the requirement for available vacancies before eligible workers can move to higher positions.
According to the NLC, the policy has created difficulties for teachers who have met the necessary requirements for promotion but remain unable to progress because of the limited number of available positions.
The congress also demanded that eligible teachers should participate in the 2025 promotion examination and called for the withdrawal of some redeployment and demotion letters issued to education directors.
The labour union argued that resolving these issues would help address concerns that have affected teachers’ career progression and welfare in the FCT.
The declaration of the FCT teachers’ strike came after attempts to resolve the disagreement failed to produce an outcome acceptable to the labour leadership.
The NLC subsequently directed workers across the territory to withdraw their services indefinitely until the FCT Administration addresses its demands.
ASUSS Rejects Strike Directive
However, ASUSS has taken a different position on the industrial action and directed secondary school teachers to remain at work.
The union asked principals, vice-principals, teachers and other education officers to continue with their normal responsibilities, stressing that students should not suffer because of disagreements between labour organisations and the FCT Administration.
ASUSS also urged school authorities to maintain regular academic activities and ensure that schools remain open for students.
The union said the issues raised by the NLC could receive attention through dialogue and established administrative procedures rather than through an indefinite strike that could disrupt learning.
ASUSS further maintained that the requirement for vacancies before promotion follows existing public service regulations.
The union also said the FCT Civil Service Commission had made arrangements for the 2025 promotion exercise to run alongside the 2026 promotion cycle, giving eligible teachers an opportunity to participate in the process.
The position has created a clear difference between the two labour bodies, with the NLC insisting on industrial action while ASUSS has instructed its members to continue working.
Dispute Puts FCT Schools in Focus
The disagreement has placed schools across the FCT at the centre of the wider dispute, particularly as parents and students await clarity on whether academic activities will continue normally.
The conflicting directives could also create uncertainty for teachers who belong to different unions, as they may have to determine which instruction applies to them while the disagreement continues.
For parents and guardians, the immediate concern remains whether schools will remain open and whether students will continue receiving lessons during the industrial dispute.
ASUSS has urged teachers to report for duty, while the NLC maintains its position on the indefinite strike. The situation therefore depends largely on further discussions between the labour unions and the FCT Administration.
The development also highlights the continuing disagreement over how teachers’ promotions should be handled within the FCT public service. While labour leaders have raised concerns about the effect of the existing system on workers’ career advancement, ASUSS has pointed to administrative procedures as a possible way to address the issues.
For now, the FCT teachers’ strike remains a developing issue, with different labour positions creating uncertainty over the implementation of the strike across schools in the territory.
Further dialogue between the NLC, ASUSS and the FCT Administration could determine whether the dispute ends soon or leads to a longer disruption of public services and educational activities.
