The anticipated protest by members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, had not commenced at the time of reporting at the entrance of the Federal Capital Territory Secretariat in Abuja.
Notwithstanding the delay, a substantial presence of security operatives was observed positioned across the entrance, near the headquarters of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, indicating heightened preparedness for the planned demonstration.
The protest is linked to an ongoing industrial action declared by the union, which began on Monday, April 20, 2026. The strike was initiated in response to what the union described as the failure of the FCT administration to address longstanding demands.
The decision to embark on the indefinite strike followed an earlier communiqué issued by the union’s leadership after an emergency meeting of its State Wing Executive Council. The directive instructed primary and secondary school teachers within the FCT to withdraw their services indefinitely.
The communiqué, jointly signed by the chairman, Abdullahi Shafa; the secretary, Margaret Jethro; and the publicity secretary, Ibukun Adekeye, stated that the action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on March 11, which lapsed on March 29 without resolution.
The union further explained that the decision was driven by the continued absence of a response to the legitimate demands of teachers, particularly against the backdrop of prevailing economic challenges affecting workers in the territory.
It also recalled that after suspending a fourteen-week strike on July 9, 2025, the FCT administration had constituted a committee to harmonise outstanding entitlements owed to primary school teachers and make appropriate recommendations.
However, according to the union, there has been no implementation of those recommendations to date, prompting renewed industrial action and the planned protest.
