FCT Teachers’ Strike: ASUSS Directs Members to Resume Work

The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has rejected the indefinite strike declared by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), directing secondary school teachers and education officers to report to work and continue their normal duties.

The directive followed an emergency meeting of the ASUSS State Executive Council, which reviewed the decision by the NUT FCT Wing to withdraw its services across the territory.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, ASUSS described the strike as premature and warned that it could disrupt academic activities and affect students.

The union asked its members to disregard the stay-at-home directive, maintaining that students’ academic progress should not be affected by disagreements between labour unions and government authorities.

ASUSS also responded to the concerns raised by the NUT over vacancies, promotion exercises and the redeployment of directors in education agencies.

On vacancies, the union said the existing requirements were based on the Public Service Rules governing establishment control and financial planning. It maintained that any proposed changes to career structures should be addressed through dialogue and administrative processes rather than industrial action.

Regarding promotions, ASUSS said the administrative issues surrounding the exercise had already been resolved. It stated that the 2025 promotion exercise would be conducted alongside the 2026 promotion cycle under the FCT Civil Service Commission, in accordance with circulars issued in September 2026.

The union also defended the redeployment of directors in education agencies to classrooms, saying the move fell within the statutory powers of management and was intended to improve administrative efficiency.

ASUSS further raised concerns that the strike could interfere with the scheduled 2025/2026 promotion examinations for FCT Education Officers.

It consequently directed all eligible education officers to take part in the examinations according to the published timetable.

The union also appealed to parents and guardians to continue sending their children to school, assuring them that academic activities would proceed despite the dispute.

Principals, vice-principals and education officers were directed to keep secondary schools open, ensure teachers report to their classrooms and maintain normal academic and administrative operations.

ASUSS further instructed school authorities to disregard directives from bodies it described as unauthorised where such instructions could interfere with the academic calendar.

It asked school administrators to monitor attendance and maintain a safe and conducive learning environment, arguing that students should not be made to suffer the consequences of industrial disagreements.

The union called for dialogue among all stakeholders, maintaining that the interests and academic welfare of students should remain central to efforts to resolve the dispute in the FCT education sector.