FCTA defends education reforms amid strike threats

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has strongly refuted allegations of harassing teachers, describing recent criticisms of its educational policies as a fundamental misinterpretation of civil service guidelines and ongoing structural reforms under FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

The clarification follows an opinion piece authored by U. Ndagi, titled “Letters: Wike, stop harassing FCT teachers” (September 19, 2026).

Addressing the claims, a senior FCTA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that administrative reassignments, promotion frameworks, and infrastructure initiatives across all six area councils are strictly driven by statutory mandates and national laws rather than personal or punitive motives.

Defending the policy of returning senior administrators to active instruction, the official cited Section II(e) of the implementation circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), which mandates deployment as classroom teachers or quality assurance officers.

“The Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act 2022—which extended service length to 40 years or 65 years of age—was specifically designed to retain experienced educators where they are needed most: in the classroom.

“Administrative seniority does not exempt educators from direct instruction, and utilizing senior experience directly benefits students across the territory,” the official stated.

The source also dismissed allegations of malice regarding recent realignments at the FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) and Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), characterizing them as routine governance measures to ensure efficiency and institutional discipline.

Defending the promotion structure, the official added that advancement in the public service must strictly align with statutory cadres, establishment quotas, and budgetary provisions to prevent institutional distortion.

The FCTA’s rebuttal comes amid an escalating dispute with teaching unions. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) FCT Council, alongside the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT Wing, has threatened an indefinite public-sector strike across Abuja.

In official correspondence signed by NUT State Chairman Comrade Abdullahi M. Shafa and State Secretary Comrade Margaret F. Jethro, the NUT argued that returning senior directors to classroom roles demoralizes personnel and disrupts administrative continuity.

Reinforcing demands to scrap the vacancy clause, reinstate 2025-eligible promotion candidates, and halt classroom redeployments, NLC FCT Council Chairman Comrade Knabayi S. Adalo issued a formal ultimatum warning of an imminent strike if demands are not met.

The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), FCT Chapter—an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC)—has broken ranks with the NLC and NUT.

ASUSS disassociated itself from the strike action, upholding the FCTA’s statutory authority to deploy personnel and agreeing that civil service promotions must remain tied to establishment vacancies and fiscal sustainability.

Crucially for the ongoing crisis, a recent judgment by the National Industrial Court has provided legal clarity on the matter.

In a suit brought by a Grade Level 17 Education Officer and former Director at the Ministry of Defence who turned 61 under the 2022 Act to challenge her reassignment to Command Secondary School, Ibadan, the court reaffirmed core principles of employment law.

The court ruled that public employers retain full legal discretion and authority to redeploy their staff as they deem fit.

As the strike deadline approaches, school administrators, educators, and parents across the Federal Capital Territory await further developments from the FCT Administration.