ASUSS opposes NUT strike in FCT, urges teachers to ignore stay-at-home directive

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has dissociated itself from the indefinite strike declared by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, directing secondary school teachers and education officers to report to their classrooms and proceed with their normal duties.

The union’s stance was made public in a press statement issued on Wednesday by its State Executive Council (SEC) following an emergency meeting to review the industrial action called by the NUT FCT Wing.

Rejecting the stay-at-home order, ASUSS argued that the academic destiny of students should not be compromised over industrial disputes, describing the strike action as premature and detrimental to educational stability in the territory.

Addressing the specific demands raised by the NUT, ASUSS offered counter-positions on the three primary issues driving the dispute.

ASUSS stated that the vacancy requirement remains a statutory provision of the Public Service Rules (PSR) governing establishment control and financial planning, emphasizing that altering career structures requires administrative dialogue rather than coercion.

The union clarified that the administrative framework for affected teachers has already been resolved, noting that the 2025 promotion process is set to run concurrently with the 2026 promotion cycle under the FCT Civil Service Commission, as outlined in circulars released in September 2026.

ASUSS maintained that the redeployment of education agency directors to classrooms falls within management’s statutory prerogative to maintain administrative order.

ASUSS further alleged that the strike action was calculated to disrupt the scheduled 2025/2026 promotion examinations for FCT Education Officers.

In its final directive, the union urged all eligible Education Officers to participate in the upcoming promotion examinations according to the published timetable, while calling on parents and guardians across the FCT to send their children to school, assuring them that academic activities will continue uninterrupted.

Furthermore, the ASUSS FCT Chapter issued specific directives to secondary school principals, vice-principals, and education officers:
“All secondary schools must remain fully open for academic and administrative activities without interruption.

“Ensure that all teachers report to their respective classrooms to execute their normal duties and teach students diligently.

“Disregard any directives or instructions from unauthorized bodies aimed at disrupting the academic calendar.

“Monitor attendance and ensure a safe, conducive learning environment for all students who are innocent victims of unnecessary industrial disruptions.”