The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has ordered an immediate, total, and indefinite strike across the territory, directing workers in both the public and private sectors to withdraw their services effective Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
​The directive follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) regarding unresolved worker grievances and key policy disputes affecting teachers and public servants.
​Speaking at a press briefing at the NLC Secretariat in Central Area, Abuja, the FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Knabayi Adalo, stated that the industrial action became unavoidable after repeated attempts to engage the FCTA leadership, headed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, failed to yield concrete resolutions.
​”There can be no peace without justice,” Adalo asserted during the announcement. “Teachers are not core civil servants nor pool staff and cannot be subjected to vacancy-based promotion requirements meant for pool officers. The attempt to sustain industrial harmony without addressing these injustices is unacceptable.”
The union outlined several critical demands that must be met before work will resume, including the Removal of Vacancy Clause: Immediate abolition of vacancy-based restrictions on teachers’ promotions.
Rescheduled Promotion Examinations: Conducting exams for eligible 2025 education officers alongside or prior to the 2026 exercise.
Reversal of Demotions and Redeployments: Nullifying demotions and redeployments issued under the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.
Reconstitution of Education Boards: Restructuring the leadership teams of the FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) and the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB).
​To ensure full compliance across schools, healthcare institutions, public offices, and commercial establishments, the NLC confirmed that specialized enforcement task forces have been dispatched across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
​While the FCTA has yet to issue an official statement regarding the strike, labor leaders urged all affiliate unions and residents to stand firm until the administration addresses the union’s demands in full.
