By Daniel Tyokua
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has challenged the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, over the ongoing indefinite strike by FCT teachers, insisting that the industrial action will continue until the outstanding labour and welfare issues are resolved.
The council, which dismissed Wike’s description of the strike as politically motivated, urged teachers to remain resolute and resist any attempt to intimidate or victimise them for participating in the action.
A statement issued on Monday by the chairman of NLC, Knabayi Adalo, said the industrial action stemmed from unresolved issues especially 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.
The labour body also faulted the Minister’s directive on the implementation of the “No Work, No Pay” policy and the reported instruction to principals and head teachers to open attendance registers to monitor teachers participating in the strike.
Maintaining that the strike followed due procedures, the NLC warned that any withholding of salaries or victimisation of participating 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 remain calm and stay away from work in line with the industrial action.
The council further advised teachers to report any threats, intimidation or queries arising from their participation in the strike to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat.
The NLC called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to address the outstanding demands, including the removal of the vacancy clause, conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and resolution of cases involving the affected directors.
The council’s position signals a hardening of labour’s stance in the dispute, despite Wike’s insistence that the strike is unwarranted and politically motivated.
While the Minister maintains that his administration has addressed the workers’ demands, the NLC insists that critical issues affecting teachers remain unresolved.
The dispute has continued without a breakthrough, with the labour body urging teachers to remain steadfast until their demands are addressed.
