The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has rejected the indefinite strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), directing secondary school teachers and education officers to report for their normal duties.
The directive followed an emergency State Executive Council meeting of the union in response to the NLC’s Wednesday strike order over unresolved labour disputes and policy grievances involving teachers in the FCT. While the FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) directed teachers in primary and secondary schools to stay at home, ASUSS said the action was premature and could disrupt students’ academic activities and the forthcoming 2025/2026 promotion examinations.
The NLC had directed workers in the FCT Administration, including those in the private sector, to begin an indefinite strike after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
The ultimatum was issued over unresolved labour disputes and policy concerns affecting teachers in the territory.
However, speaking in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman of ASUSS in the FCT, Julius Ogundiran, said the union had reviewed the situation and resolved not to participate in the strike.
Ogundiran described the industrial action as premature and detrimental to the educational welfare and academic progress of students across the FCT.
“The future and academic destiny of the Nigerian child in the classroom must not be used as collateral or held hostage at every instance of industrial disagreement,” he said.
The ASUSS chairman said the union and concerned teachers were increasingly opposed to what he described as “incessant, baseless and premature strikes,” arguing that such actions did little to promote genuine industrial harmony.
Ogundiran maintained that none of the three major grievances raised by the NUT was sufficient to justify industrial action at this time.
On the demand for the removal of the vacancy requirement for teachers’ promotion, he said the provision remained an entrenched requirement under the Public Service Rules.
He explained that issues relating to establishment frameworks and financial approvals required administrative negotiation and engagement rather than industrial action.
Addressing the alleged omission of some teachers from the 2025 promotion examination, Ogundiran said the FCT Administration had already addressed the matter through administrative measures.
“ASUSS, therefore, argues that striking over an issue that has already received administrative redress is entirely uncalled for,” he said.
On the redeployment of some education directors back to classrooms, he said the exercise was within the administrative powers of management to maintain order and ensure compliance with statutory standards in the public service.
Ogundiran warned that the strike appeared to be an attempt to disrupt the forthcoming 2025/2026 promotion examinations scheduled for eligible FCT education officers.
He therefore directed ASUSS members to disregard the stay-at-home order and report for their scheduled assessments.
The chairman also appealed to parents and guardians across the FCT to allow their children and wards to attend school and participate in normal academic activities.
He assured the public that ASUSS remained committed to professional integrity, social responsibility and sustained industrial harmony in the education sector.
