Wike Accuses FCT Teachers’ Strike of Political Motives, Threatens No-Work, No-Pay Policy

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused the FCT Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Knabayi Adalo, of using the ongoing teachers’ strike to pursue political interests, warning that workers who participate in the industrial action will face the no-work, no-pay policy.

Wike described the strike as politically motivated, alleging that it was intended to discredit the FCT Administration. He insisted that the government had addressed the concerns raised by organised labour.

The minister made the remarks during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, following a closed-door meeting with Area Council chairmen and security operatives.

The strike began on Wednesday, October 7, after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued by the NLC over unresolved disputes concerning teachers’ promotions and welfare.

Among the union’s demands are the removal of vacancy requirements for teachers’ promotions, the reconsideration of eligible teachers excluded from the 2025 promotion examination, and the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to education directors who benefited from the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.

The NLC also demanded the reinstatement of dissolved management teams of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board and the Secondary Education Board.

The union subsequently directed workers in both the public and private sectors to stay away from their duty posts until further notice.

However, the strike has exposed divisions within organised labour in the FCT, as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) have distanced themselves from the industrial action.

In a statement issued on Friday, the TUC FCT Council Secretary, Sunday Joseph, directed affiliate unions and members to disregard the NLC’s strike directive and resume work.

The TUC said it was not consulted before the decision was taken and did not participate in the meeting that produced the strike directive.

The congress called for dialogue and the use of established industrial relations mechanisms to resolve disputes affecting workers and students.

Similarly, ASUSS had earlier directed its members and education officers to return to their normal duties, describing the strike as premature and potentially harmful to students’ academic progress.

Speaking on the dispute, Wike maintained that the strike was unjustified, claiming that the FCT Administration had fulfilled its obligations to teachers and other local government workers.

He said the government would not accept what he described as attempts to use industrial action to create a political crisis in the territory.

The minister also announced the immediate implementation of the no-work, no-pay policy across the Area Councils, arguing that the strike was declared without adequate consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Wike further alleged that Adalo, whom he identified as an African Democratic Congress candidate in the last Area Council elections, was using the dispute to portray the administration as incapable of keeping schools operational.

According to the minister, union leaders who wish to participate in partisan politics should relinquish their union leadership positions to prevent the politicisation of labour activities.

Wike maintained that the major education unions had withdrawn their support for the strike because the administration was already implementing agreements reached with workers.

NLC Chairman Defends Strike

However, Adalo rejected Wike’s allegations, insisting that the strike was driven by unresolved grievances affecting teachers rather than political interests.

He cited delayed promotions, redeployment issues and the administration’s failure to address workers’ demands despite repeated correspondence.

Adalo said the union had records showing the number of eligible teachers whose promotions had been delayed for years, as well as details of how redeployment had affected members.

He challenged the FCT Administration to provide information on the number of promotion vacancies available to teachers on Grade Levels 13, 14, 15 and 16.

The NLC chairman questioned why the dispute was being portrayed as political when, according to him, the union’s demands were based on identifiable workplace grievances.

Adalo maintained that the union remained open to negotiations but would not suspend the strike until the issues affecting teachers were satisfactorily resolved.

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