No going back on teachers’ strike, FCT NLC dares Wike

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has insisted that the indefinite strike by FCT teachers will continue until outstanding labour and welfare issues are resolved, challenging Minister Nyesom Wike over the industrial action.

The NLC dismissed Wike’s claim that the strike was politically motivated, urging teachers to remain resolute and resist attempts to intimidate or victimise them.

In a statement issued on Monday, the FCT NLC Chairman, Knabayi Adalo, said the strike was necessitated by unresolved issues, including the imposition of the vacancy clause in teachers’ promotions, failure to conduct the 2025 promotion exercise and the alleged demotion of directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.

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The labour body also faulted the minister’s directive on the implementation of the ‘no work, no pay’ policy and the instruction to principals and head teachers to open attendance registers to monitor teachers participating in the strike.

Maintaining that the industrial action followed due process, the NLC warned that any attempt to withhold salaries or victimise striking teachers would be challenged through appropriate channels.

It directed affected teachers and other workers not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, urging them to stay away from work in line with the union’s directive.

The council also advised teachers to report any threats, intimidation or queries arising from their participation in the strike to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat.

It called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to address the outstanding demands, particularly the removal of the vacancy clause, conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and resolution of cases involving affected directors.

The council’s position signals a hardening of labour’s stance amid the disagreement with Wike over the legitimacy of the strike and the handling of the teachers’ demands.

While the minister maintains that the strike is unwarranted and politically motivated, the NLC insists that critical issues affecting teachers remain unresolved and must be addressed before the industrial action can end.