Striking teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday turned back students of both public primary and secondary schools who reported for the third-term academic session.
The teachers, who stationed themselves at the gate of the various schools, also turned back students that are due to begin their final year examinations being conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) today.
The strike has generated reactions from both the parents and the FCT Administration, which had warned of an impending WAEC crisis if the strike continues.
According to the FCT Administration's school calendar, academic activities were scheduled to begin for both public and private schools in the nation's capital yesterday while the WAEC examinations for the final year student are expected to begin today.
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However, primary and secondary teachers, under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), declared an indefinite strike across all public schools effective Monday, advising parents to keep their children at home.
How the industrial crisis started
The struggle for these entitlements has seen several cycles of strikes and temporary resolutions.
In January 2022, a two-month strike was suspended after the then-FCT Minister of State, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, brokered a deal.
A template was signed by the six Area Council chairmen to deduct N30 million monthly from their Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) coffers to liquidate the debt. However, the union claims the chairmen honored this agreement only once.
In September 2023, the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, intervened during another strike action.
He established a six-man committee led by the Minister of State, Hajiya Mariya Mahmoud. While Minister Wike fulfilled his promise to pay 40% of the arrears, the Area Council chairmen, responsible for the remaining 60%, allegedly reneged on the agreement.
The dispute reached a boiling point in late 2024 when teachers barricaded Area Council secretariats.
While the N70,000 minimum wage was eventually implemented in July 2025 following direct deductions by the Minister, other outstanding entitlements remained unresolved.
On March 11, 2026, the NUT issued a seven-day ultimatum to Minister Wike, followed by a 28-day grace period, demanding the release of the committee's report on harmonizing outstanding teacher entitlements.
Following an emergency State Working Executive Committee (SWEC) meeting on Friday, April 18, 2026, the union directed all teachers to down tools, citing a lack of "tangible response" from the authorities.
Schools deserted across area councils
Our reporter, who monitored the situation, visited several schools on Monday morning and observed that pupils who reported for classes were turned back by teachers stationed at the school gates.
Across various area councils, classrooms remained empty and locked.
At Government Secondary School (GSS) Kekeshi in Abaji Area Council, classrooms were deserted and the school remained shut.
The nearby Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School was also closed, with no pupils or teachers present.
At Bako LEA Primary School in Kwali Area Council, the main gate was under lock and key.
A few teachers were seen standing outside the entrance. One teacher, Danjuma Habaku, stated that the strike was necessitated by the FCT Administration's failure to address teacher demands.
"There are pending issues the union expects the FCT Administration to address, including the report of the six-man committee regarding outstanding entitlements which they have failed to implement," Habaku said.
At the Demonstration LEA Primary School IN Gwagwalada Area Council, the few pupils who arrived were immediately turned back.
Officials of the Gwagwalada branch of the NUT, led by Comrade Sadiq Abubakar Ahmed, were seen monitoring the strike at the gate.
Similarly, Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Gwagwalada was completely shut.
A security guard confirmed that the strike led to the total closure of the premises.
In Kuje Area Council, academic activities at LEA Primary School Unguwar Gade and GSS Kuje were halted.
At GSS Kuje, the gates were locked; teachers present declined to speak extensively, directing inquiries to the state union headquarters.
Parents express concern
Parents have expressed worry over the disruption. Many noted that the timing is particularly difficult as students were prepared to begin their final term of the academic year.
Mrs. Afiniki Jacob, a parent, shared her frustration, "I took my two daughters to school this morning, only to be stopped at the gate by teachers who told me to take them back home because of the strike. It is very disappointing."
She appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and other education stakeholders to intervene urgently to resolve the impasse.
It would be recalled that on Friday, the FCT NUT, under the leadership of Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, directed all primary and secondary teachers across the six area councils to down tools.
The union cited the FCT Administration's failure to release and implement the report on primary school teachers' outstanding entitlements and other pending demands as the primary reason for the industrial action.
FCTA begs NUT, warns of impending crisis
The Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Secretariat, Danlami Hayyo, has appealed to the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to suspend its ongoing industrial action.
He warned that the strike is "psychologically demoralising" for students scheduled to begin their West African Examinations Council (WAEC) papers today.
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Speaking during a school inspection on Monday, Hayyo expressed concern over reports that union members were forcibly removing students and teachers from classrooms.
"I was initially impressed by the high turnout of both students and teachers ready for learning," he noted. "However, the NUT has chased pupils out of some schools. I do not believe it is constitutionally right for a union to forcefully eject students who are eager to learn."
Considering the timing of the strike is critical--with WAEC examinations set to commence nationwide--Hayyo questioned the union's commitment to the welfare of the children.
"How can you expect your sons and daughters to write their exams tomorrow when you are chasing them out of school today?" he asked. "You are demoralizing them; psychologically, this could lead to mass failure. WAEC will not reschedule its calendar specifically for FCT students. Do you want them to miss this opportunity entirely?"
Hayyo urged the union to return to the bargaining table rather than "destabilizing" the entire FCT education system over local council disputes.
"I am tired of this cycle of strikes. For effective learning and quality education, industrial action is not the best path. If we continue to discourage these children now, they may retaliate when they become the leaders of tomorrow," he stated. "We are working to reduce the number of out-of-school children, but this strike is pushing us backward."
