NUT shuts down public schools in Abuja from Monday as talks with government collapse

Public school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have announced an indefinite strike beginning Monday, April 20, 2026, citing unresolved welfare concerns and unpaid entitlements.

The decision was reached by the FCT wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) after an emergency meeting where members resolved to withdraw their services until authorities meet their long-standing demands.

The industrial action is expected to shut down all public primary and secondary schools across the six area councils of the FCT, affecting thousands of students and disrupting academic activities.

At the heart of the dispute are unpaid salaries, delayed promotions, and the failure of the FCT Administration to fully implement previous agreements reached with the union. According to the teachers, repeated negotiations and engagements with relevant authorities have yielded no meaningful progress.

The union said the strike became unavoidable after all attempts at dialogue broke down, leaving members with no alternative but to down tools.

Teachers have been directed to stay away from classrooms indefinitely, while parents and guardians have been advised to keep their children at home until further notice.

The strike is expected to significantly disrupt the academic calendar, coming at a time when schools were either resuming or preparing for full academic activities.