Manny Ita
Public primary and secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory were shut on Monday after teachers formally joined the ongoing industrial action by unions under the Federal Capital Territory Administration, bringing academic activities in Abuja to a halt.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers, FCT Wing, directed its members to comply with the strike following a resolution reached with other labour unions. In a statement issued to its members, the union instructed teachers to “withdraw their services with immediate effect” and fully participate in the industrial action until further notice.
The strike is part of a broader action led by the Joint Union Action Committee representing workers in the FCTA over unresolved welfare and labour issues. The unions are protesting what they described as persistent non-payment of entitlements, including unpaid allowances, delays in the remittance of pension and housing fund deductions, and the centralisation of salary payments.
Union leaders said the decision to shut down schools followed a directive from organised labour for all affiliate unions to join the strike. A senior union official said the teachers’ action was necessary to “demonstrate solidarity with other workers whose welfare concerns have remained unaddressed despite repeated engagements.”
Teachers were also directed to assemble at designated locations, including the National Industrial Court in Abuja, in support of the union’s position as legal proceedings surrounding the strike continue. According to the union, the action would remain in force until concrete commitments are made by the authorities.
The strike has disrupted learning for thousands of pupils and students across the FCT, leaving parents uncertain about the duration of the shutdown. School administrators confirmed that classrooms remained locked in compliance with the union’s directive.
Tensions have continued to rise within the FCT, with other categories of workers maintaining the strike despite a court order directing a suspension of the action. Union representatives insist that the issues at stake affect workers’ livelihoods and “cannot be ignored or wished away.”
As of the time of filing this report, the FCT Administration had not issued a fresh official response on the teachers’ participation in the strike or announced a timeline for negotiations, raising fears of a prolonged disruption to academic activities in the nation’s capital.
