BusinessDay Nigeria News: FCT teachers end strike after N5bn commitment from Wike
Published on: 04/30/2026
By Ladi Patrick-Okwoli
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, has announced the immediate suspension of its strike action, providing much-needed relief to students across the region.
The decision comes after an emergency meeting was convened to assess the intervention of Nyesom Wike, FCT minister, who became involved in the dispute that began on April 20, 2026.
Abdullahi Shafa, chairman of the NUT’s State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) in the FCT, confirmed the suspension during a press briefing on Sunday in Gwagwalada.
Shafa explained that the suspension follows a significant financial intervention by the minister, who approved a N5 billion monthly allocation to address the teachers’ outstanding entitlements.
This fund will be sourced from the FCT’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and a 10% IGR contribution from the Area Councils. The allocation will be used to implement the 40% peculiar allowance for teachers and clear overdue payments for primary school educators.
Read also: FCT teachers begin indefinite strike Monday over unmet demands
In addition to the financial commitment, Shafa revealed that the minister had engaged the chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission to address promotion concerns.
The FCT administration has committed to reviewing the 2024 promotion exercise and removing the vacancy precondition for teacher promotions.
Following the resolution, all primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT are expected to resume their duties on Monday, April 27.
Shafa reassured that no teacher would face retaliation for participating in the strike and emphasised that the union would reconsider its position should the FCT administration fail to honour its commitments.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), FCT chapter, has distanced itself from the ongoing strike.
Read also: Basic school curriculum rollout hit by resource constraints, teacher deficits
Julius Ogundiran, ASUSS Chairman, clarified in a statement on Tuesday that the union was not part of the NUT-led strike.
Ogundiran highlighted that ASUSS members were unaffected by the issues raised by NUT, as secondary school teachers fall under the purview of the FCT administration, while primary school teachers are managed by the Area Councils.
Ogundiran further urged ASUSS members to disregard the NUT’s strike call and resume academic activities.
He pointed out that ASUSS, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has no involvement in the wage and allowance disputes affecting NUT members.
He also noted that the FCT administration has already addressed several of the NUT’s concerns, including issues related to wage awards and the N70,000 minimum wage.
In conclusion, Ogundiran assured that the FCT administration is actively working to resolve promotion issues for secondary school teachers.
He reiterated that ASUSS members should not be drawn into the ongoing strike, as most of the demands pertain specifically to primary school teachers.
The decision comes after an emergency meeting was convened to assess the intervention of Nyesom Wike, FCT minister, who became involved in the dispute that began on April 20, 2026.
Abdullahi Shafa, chairman of the NUT’s State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) in the FCT, confirmed the suspension during a press briefing on Sunday in Gwagwalada.
Shafa explained that the suspension follows a significant financial intervention by the minister, who approved a N5 billion monthly allocation to address the teachers’ outstanding entitlements.
This fund will be sourced from the FCT’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and a 10% IGR contribution from the Area Councils. The allocation will be used to implement the 40% peculiar allowance for teachers and clear overdue payments for primary school educators.
Read also: FCT teachers begin indefinite strike Monday over unmet demands
In addition to the financial commitment, Shafa revealed that the minister had engaged the chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission to address promotion concerns.
The FCT administration has committed to reviewing the 2024 promotion exercise and removing the vacancy precondition for teacher promotions.
Following the resolution, all primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT are expected to resume their duties on Monday, April 27.
Shafa reassured that no teacher would face retaliation for participating in the strike and emphasised that the union would reconsider its position should the FCT administration fail to honour its commitments.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), FCT chapter, has distanced itself from the ongoing strike.
Read also: Basic school curriculum rollout hit by resource constraints, teacher deficits
Julius Ogundiran, ASUSS Chairman, clarified in a statement on Tuesday that the union was not part of the NUT-led strike.
Ogundiran highlighted that ASUSS members were unaffected by the issues raised by NUT, as secondary school teachers fall under the purview of the FCT administration, while primary school teachers are managed by the Area Councils.
Ogundiran further urged ASUSS members to disregard the NUT’s strike call and resume academic activities.
He pointed out that ASUSS, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has no involvement in the wage and allowance disputes affecting NUT members.
He also noted that the FCT administration has already addressed several of the NUT’s concerns, including issues related to wage awards and the N70,000 minimum wage.
In conclusion, Ogundiran assured that the FCT administration is actively working to resolve promotion issues for secondary school teachers.
He reiterated that ASUSS members should not be drawn into the ongoing strike, as most of the demands pertain specifically to primary school teachers.