Wike Faces Another Crisis As FCT Workers Begin Strike

By Molayo Anjorin

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike is facing another battle as the Nigeria Labour Congress, FCT Council commenced an indefinite strike over policy of tying teachers’ promotion to available vacancies.

Nigeria Labour Congress FCT Council Chairman, Knabayi Adalo directed workers in public and private establishments in the Capital Territory to withhold their services from Wednesday following the expiration of seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCTA under Wike

The Union said the decision was in response to the administration’s “ambiguous, dismissive and totally unacceptable” response to the ultimatum.

The NLC challenged the ’s policy of making vacancies a criterion for the promotion of teachers, arguing that the adoption of the vacancy clause had stalled the progress of many teachers whose promotions have been pending.

Adalo said the teachers should not be subjected to a promotion policy designed for general civil service pool officers.

“Teachers are not core civil servants nor pool staff and cannot be subjected to vacancy-based promotion meant for pool officers,” he said.

In its demands, the union asked the FCTA to allow teachers who became eligible for promotion in 2025 to sit for the promotion examination in the same batch with the 2026 candidates.

It further asked for the rescinding of redeployment and demotion letters issued to various directors who were promoted as a result of Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022 and for the dissolution and reconstitution of the managements of FCT Secondary Education Board and  Universal Basic Education Board.

The NLC said of Nyesom Wike led FCTA’s failure to resolve the issues forced it to direct its affiliate unions to mobilise workers across schools, hospitals, offices and other establishments in the territory.