Abuja:The Abuja Resident Youth Association (ARYA) and the League of Civil Society Groups have urged the immediate suspension of the indefinite strike initiated by teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the call was made during a joint news conference held in Abuja, led by Amb. Akoshile Mukhtar, President of ARYA, and Mr. Mohammed Basah, President of the League of Civil Society Groups. They criticized the strike for unfairly penalizing children over administrative issues.
Teachers in the FCT, under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have launched the strike over demands including the removal of vacancy requirements for promotions, the recall of teachers affected by a paused 2025 promotion exercise, and the reversal of redeployment orders for certain directors and principals.
The FCT Administration had previously extended the retirement age for teachers to 65 and 40 years of service, but also mandated the redeployment of some administrators to teaching roles to open opportunities for younger educators. This move was opposed by labor leaders, leading to the closure of schools and other public services.
However, divisions have appeared among teachers, as the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), FCT chapter, distanced itself from the strike. ASUSS instructed its members to continue working and prepare for an upcoming promotion examination.
A Coalition of Concerned FCT Teachers has also raised questions about the strike’s justification. Mukhtar emphasized that while fair teacher career progression is important, it should not come at the expense of children’s education, suggesting the strike may have political motivations.
Mr. Faruk Onimisi, an FCT NUT member, mentioned that many teachers were surprised by the strike, which was announced via a WhatsApp message. He noted that two of the three issues raised have been substantially addressed, questioning the strike’s necessity.
Basah highlighted that promotions in public service depend on merit and vacancy availability, urging the FCTA to clarify promotion frameworks and involve parents in discussions about school disruptions. He called for urgent negotiations among relevant parties to resolve the issues and restore normalcy.