The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has directed its members to report to work as usual, distancing itself from the indefinite strike declared by the FCT Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
In a statement issued on Thursday, the TUC said the NLC announced the industrial action without consulting its council or affiliated unions.
The NLC, in a communiqué dated October 6, 2026, had directed public and private sector workers in the FCT to commence an indefinite strike on Wednesday, October 7, over a dispute between the FCT Administration and the Nigeria Union of Teachers.
However, the TUC said it neither participated in the meeting that produced the strike directive nor endorsed the decision to embark on industrial action.
“We took no part in the meeting that produced it, and we did not take part in the decision to call a strike. Accordingly, the TUC FCT is not a party to the said industrial action,” the council stated.
Consequently, the union directed its affiliate unions and members across the territory to continue their normal duties and businesses.
“All TUC affiliate unions and members in the FCT should go about their normal duties and businesses and report to work as usual,” the statement added.
The council also warned against attempts to intimidate or coerce its members into participating in the strike, urging anyone facing such pressure to report the incident to its secretariat immediately.
“Members should not be intimidated or coerced into joining any action that the TUC has not sanctioned. Any such incident should be reported to the TUC FCT Secretariat without delay,” it said.
The TUC further instructed leaders of its affiliate unions to disregard directives to establish strike enforcement committees unless such instructions emanated from the FCT council’s leadership.
It urged workers to remain calm, law-abiding and vigilant, adding that any further instructions would be communicated by its leadership should the situation change.
While expressing concern over the dispute’s potential impact on teachers, other workers and schoolchildren, the council called on the parties involved to embrace dialogue and established industrial relations mechanisms to resolve their differences.
The TUC stressed the need to prevent the dispute from disrupting education and undermining children’s future.
“We remain open to that approach, so that our children’s access to education and a bright future is not disrupted,” the statement said.
