Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has described the ongoing strike by FCT primary school teachers as politically motivated, threatening to enforce a no-work, no-pay policy if the teachers fail to return to their posts.
The confrontation escalated an industrial dispute that began Wednesday, when the FCT chapter of the NLC called an indefinite strike after a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration expired.
The union says teachers have faced stalled promotions, redeployments and unresolved welfare concerns.
Speaking after a closed-door meeting with area council chairmen and security officials, Wike rejected the union’s characterization of the dispute and said the administration had already addressed labor’s concerns.
“This so-called strike declaration is political, and we will not accept it,” Wike said.
“There’s no basis for anybody to call for a strike”, he added.
He directed council chairmen to enforce a no-work, no-pay policy, warning that employees who join the action would not be compensated for days absent.
Wike also accused NLC FCT Chairman Knabayi Adalo, whom he said ran for office under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of seeking to portray the capital’s schools as paralyzed for electoral advantage.
“If you want to involve yourself in politics, you are free to, but then excuse yourself from the leadership of the union,” the minister said.
Adalo rejected the allegation, saying the strike reflected concrete grievances rather than partisan ambition.
He said the union could document eligible teachers who have waited years for promotion and workers affected by redeployment.
“Why is he trying to see it as politics?” Adalo asked. “We know what we are talking about ,” he added.
The NLC is demanding the removal of a vacancy requirement before teachers can be promoted, the reconsideration of eligible teachers omitted from the 2025 promotion exercise, and the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to education directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act.
The union also seeks the reinstatement of dissolved management teams at the FCT Universal Basic Education Board and Secondary Education Board.
Adalo said labor remained open to talks but would not end the strike without a satisfactory resolution.
The action has exposed a split within organized labor in Abuja.
The FCT chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said it was not consulted before the NLC directive and told affiliates to report for work.
“Disputes affecting workers and children should be resolved through consultation and established industrial relations mechanisms,” TUC FCT Secretary Sunday Joseph said in a statement.
The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) had earlier instructed its members to resume normal duties, calling the strike premature and potentially damaging to students’ education.
The dispute leaves Abuja’s schools and public offices facing an uncertain standoff, with the government threatening payroll consequences and the union insisting that negotiations must precede any return to work.
