Teachers and students of LEA Ijayapi Primary School and LEA Byazhin Primary School in the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory have fully complied with the directive of the Nigeria Union of Teachers to embark on an indefinite strike.
A visit to both schools early Monday morning showed complete shutdown of academic activities. At about 7:55 a.m., the premises were deserted, with no teachers or pupils present. Classrooms were locked, while windows and doors remained shut, confirming total compliance with the strike order.
The action follows a directive issued by the State Wing Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the FCT, which instructed all public primary and secondary school teachers to withdraw their services indefinitely starting Monday.
The directive was contained in a communiqué released after an emergency meeting held in Gwagwalada, Abuja. It was signed by State Chairman Abdullahi Shafa, State Secretary Margaret Jethro, and State Publicity Secretary Ibukun Adekeye.
Teachers were instructed to strictly comply with the strike and await further directives from the union. Parents were also advised to keep their children and wards at home until the dispute is resolved.
According to the union, the strike followed the expiration of a seven day ultimatum earlier issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over unresolved welfare concerns affecting teachers.
While acknowledging the implementation of the new N70,000 minimum wage and payment of nine months’ salary arrears, the union said several critical issues remain unattended. These include delayed promotion processes, unresolved entitlements, and failure to implement recommendations of a committee set up in 2025 to address teachers’ welfare concerns.
The committee, which submitted its report in August 2025, has yet to see its recommendations implemented or made public, according to the union.
Teachers are demanding the immediate release and implementation of the report, removal of conditions attached to promotions, and a review of the 2024 promotion exercise conducted under the FCT Civil Service structure.
The union expressed disappointment that despite extensions and grace periods, there has been no meaningful response from authorities.
As a result, it declared that all public primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT will remain on strike indefinitely until their demands are fully addressed.
Parents and guardians have been urged to adjust accordingly as academic activities across public schools in Abuja remain suspended.
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