The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council (JCC), FCT Chapter, have distanced themselves from the strike declared by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing.
They described the action as ill-timed and potentially disruptive to academic activities across the territory.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Chairman of ASUSS, FCT Chapter, Comrade Julius Ogundiran, reaffirmed that secondary school teachers across the FCT remained in their classrooms and continued with their academic duties.
Addressing the issues raised by the NUT, Ogundiran gave counter-positions on the three major issues at the centre of the dispute.
He said the vacancy requirement remained a statutory provision of the Public Service Rules (PSR) governing establishment control and financial planning, adding that any changes to career structures required administrative dialogue rather than industrial action.
He further said the administrative framework for affected teachers had already been resolved, noting that the 2025 promotion process would run concurrently with the 2026 promotion cycle under the FCT Civil Service Commission, in line with circulars issued in September 2026.
The ASUSS chairman also maintained that the redeployment of education agency directors to classrooms fell within management’s statutory powers to maintain administrative order.
Ogundiran alleged that the strike was intended to disrupt the scheduled 2025/2026 promotion examinations for FCT education officers.
“First, let me reaffirm our position unconditionally. ASUSS is not on strike.
“We have disassociated ourselves from the NUT strike action, and all secondary school teachers in the FCT are in their classrooms teaching,” Ogundiran said.
He said while ASUSS strongly supported legitimate demands for teachers’ welfare, the union opposed any disruption to the ongoing 2026 Computer-Based Test (CBT) promotion examination scheduled for October.
He stressed that teachers’ career progression and students’ academic futures should not be compromised.
Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of ASUSS, FCT Chapter, Comrade Pastor Ibiam Cyril Johnson, described the strike as illegal, saying pupils and students ultimately bore the consequences of disruptions to the academic calendar.
Johnson explained that ASUSS, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), operated independently of the NUT, which was affiliated with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
He said ASUSS was neither consulted nor involved in the decision to embark on the industrial action.
“As far as FCT is concerned, we have taken our stand: we are not part of the strike, and we are not embarking on a strike.
“The issues of vacancy are administrative issues and gazetted policies under the Nigerian Public Service Rules.
“On the 2026 CBT promotion examination, the FCT Minister showed magnanimity by approving that the 2025 promotion set be carried along with the 2026 exercise after earlier disruptions,” Johnson said.
He urged the NUT leadership to “down their swords” and engage the FCT Administration (FCTA), the FCT Civil Service Commission, and relevant boards through constructive dialogue rather than confrontation.
Also expressing concern, the Secretary-General of NANS, JCC FCT Chapter, Comrade Abdulkarim Abba Muhammad, urged labour leaders and the FCTA to immediately suspend the strike to safeguard students’ academic progression.
“Students should not pay the price for disputes between the government and labour.
“Every day away from the classroom costs learners valuable teaching time and places added pressure on families,” Muhammad said.
Muhammad also raised questions about political neutrality within labour leadership, calling on the FCT NLC Chairman to clarify his reported involvement as a candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He said such clarification was necessary to maintain public confidence and prevent workers’ grievances from being used for political leverage.
Both ASUSS and NANS reaffirmed their commitment to teachers’ welfare and fair career advancement, maintaining that constructive dialogue remained the most viable way to resolve the grievances without disrupting education in the Federal Capital Territory.
