The Trade Union Congress (TUC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has directed its affiliate unions and members to disregard the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s call for an indefinite strike over the dispute between the FCT Administration (FCTA) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
In a statement, the TUC FCT Council said the NLC’s directive was issued without consultation with its leadership or any of its affiliate unions in the territory.
The NLC had, in a communiqué dated October 6, 2026, directed public and private sector workers in the FCT to embark on an indefinite strike from October 7 over the lingering dispute between the FCTA and the NUT.
However, the TUC council said it neither participated in the meeting that produced the strike directive nor endorsed the decision to embark on the industrial action.
It consequently urged its affiliate unions and members to continue their normal duties and business activities, directing them to report to work as usual.
The council also warned against attempts to intimidate or coerce its members into participating in an industrial action that had not been authorised by its leadership.
It advised members to report any incidents of intimidation or coercion to the TUC FCT Secretariat without delay.
The labour centre further directed leaders of its affiliate unions to disregard any instruction to establish enforcement committees unless it came from the TUC FCT leadership.
It urged workers to remain calm, law-abiding and vigilant, adding that its leadership would issue further guidance if the situation changed.
The TUC also expressed concern about the welfare of children, teachers and other workers in the FCT, emphasising the need for proactive engagement and effective strategies to resolve industrial disputes.
It maintained that disputes affecting workers and the education sector should be addressed through proper consultation and established industrial relations mechanisms.
The council warned that approaches capable of disrupting children’s access to education should be avoided, urging stakeholders to pursue a resolution that protects the interests of teachers, workers and pupils.
The development highlights a disagreement between the two labour centres over the proposed industrial action arising from the dispute between the FCTA and the NUT.
