Public schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were deserted on Monday as teachers commenced an indefinite strike action following a directive from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT chapter.
At schools such as LEA Ijayapi Primary School and LEA Byazhin Primary School, both teachers and students were absent, with classrooms locked and school premises left inactive as of early morning.
The strike follows a decision by the NUT FCT Executive Council, which instructed members to withdraw their services over unresolved welfare-related demands.
In a communiqué issued after an emergency State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting held in Gwagwalada on Friday, the union directed full compliance with the industrial action and advised parents to keep their children at home.
The union also asked members to await further instructions, pending possible negotiations with the FCT administration.
According to the statement, the action came after a review of a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued to the Minister of the FCT on March 11. While the union acknowledged the implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, it said several other demands remained unresolved.
“After exhaustive deliberations on the industrial issues and the silence on the legitimate demands of teachers’ welfare, the Council resolved that all public primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT shall, with effect from Monday, proceed on an indefinite strike until our demands are met,” the union stated.
The development has effectively disrupted academic activities across public schools in the FCT, with no official resolution announced at the time of reporting.
