By Daniel Tyokua
The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Dr. Stephen Knabayi Adalo, has defended the ongoing strike by the Congress, saying it is aimed at addressing teachers’ welfare concerns and prolonged career stagnation.
Adalo stated this at the sideline of the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike tagging of the strike as “politically motivated”, and the decision of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) to distance itself from the strike.
He explained that one of the major demands of the Congress was the removal of vacancy requirements for teachers’ promotion, which he said had contributed to prolonged career stagnation.
He added that the strike was also intended to address other outstanding issues affecting teachers’ welfare and career progression.
The FCT NLC chairman further disclosed that the Congress was demanding the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors affected by the implementation of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022, as well as the resolution of other administrative issues affecting the FCT education boards.
Reacting to ASUSS’s position, Adalo described the association’s decision as misguided, insisting that the NLC believed in dialogue and negotiation and only resorted to industrial action when efforts to resolve disputes failed.
He said he was not responsible for anyone’s ignorance of the law and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, warning against attaching negative political interpretations to the activities of organised labour and individuals involved in the strike.
According to him, interpreting the industrial action by the NLC and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) as a political arrangement against the All Progressives Congress (APC) or in connection with the forthcoming general elections was a deviation from the substantive issues affecting teachers.
Adalo described such interpretations as short-sighted, arguing that they could prolong the strike and complicate efforts to resolve the dispute.
He maintained that attention should remain focused on removing unnecessary restrictions on teachers’ career progression and addressing policies he considered unfavourable to their professional development.
The NLC chairman also disclosed that the Congress was engaging relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that the outstanding demands were addressed.
He urged teachers to remain united, stressing that the struggle was aimed at improving their working conditions and securing a better future for subsequent generations of teachers.
The FCT NLC embarked on an indefinite strike following unresolved demands relating to teachers’ promotion, career stagnation and other welfare concerns.
The Congress is particularly seeking the removal of vacancy requirements for promotion and the resolution of outstanding administrative issues affecting teachers in the FCT.
