Drama in Abuja as NUT, ASUSS issue conflicting orders over strike

The Federal Government has approved the payment of the Consolidated Non-Academic Staff Tertiary Institutions Allowance (CONTA) to non-academic employees of Federal Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, covering the period between January and August 2026.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced the release of the allowance, describing the move as part of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s efforts to improve staff welfare, promote industrial harmony and maintain a stable academic environment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

In Abuja a different scenario played out, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has declared an indefinite strike across the nation’s capital, shutting down public and private sector activities from Wednesday.

The industrial action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on September 8, 2026, over unresolved welfare-related grievances affecting teachers in the territory.

However, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has rejected the indefinite strike declared by NUT, directing secondary school teachers and education officers across the territory to return to their classrooms and continue with their official responsibilities.

ASUSS made its position known in a statement released on Wednesday by its State Executive Council (SEC) after an emergency meeting convened to examine the industrial action embarked upon by the NUT FCT Wing.

Alausa said the payment reflects the government’s appreciation of the critical role played by non-academic personnel in ensuring the smooth running of tertiary institutions and supporting the country’s human capital development drive.

According to the minister, the welfare, motivation and dedication of both academic and non-academic staff remain crucial to the effective operation of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

He explained that the release of CONTA forms part of ongoing government measures to address genuine welfare concerns, strengthen cooperation with workers and reduce disruptions to academic activities nationwide.

The development comes shortly after the commencement of payment of the Consolidated Academic Tertiary Institutions Allowance (CATA) to academic staff on Monday, highlighting the Federal Government’s commitment to meeting its obligations to personnel across the tertiary education sector.

Alausa stated that the payments demonstrate the administration’s determination to strengthen institutions responsible for producing the skilled workforce needed to drive Nigeria’s economic and social transformation.

He assured stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to engage relevant unions, heads of institutions and other partners to resolve outstanding matters, encourage mutual understanding and build a productive, stable and internationally competitive tertiary education system.

The minister commended academic and non-academic staff, institutional leaders, unions and other stakeholders for their patience, cooperation and support towards the government’s efforts.

He reiterated that the ministry under his leadership would continue to implement policies and programmes focused on staff welfare, institutional stability, human capital development and improved learning outcomes.

The Federal Ministry of Education assured workers and stakeholders in the tertiary education sector that the Tinubu administration remains committed to fulfilling its responsibilities, addressing legitimate concerns and sustaining reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education system.

The ministry added that the initiatives align with the human capital development objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

However, in a communique signed by NLC FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Knabayi Adalo, the union rejected the FCTA’s response to its demands, describing it as “ambiguous, dismissive and totally unacceptable.”

The dispute centres on the FCTA’s implementation of the “vacancy clause”, which makes available establishment positions a condition for teachers to access promotion.

The NLC faulted the policy, arguing that teachers are recruited by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) and the FCT Secondary Education Board (FCT SEB) specifically for teaching responsibilities and should not be treated as core civil servants or pool officers.

According to the union, applying vacancy-based promotion requirements designed for pool officers to teachers has created career stagnation, frustration and loss of morale among educators.

The Congress listed its demands to include the immediate removal of the vacancy clause as a requirement for teachers’ promotion, allowing eligible 2025 candidates to sit for promotion examinations alongside or ahead of 2026 candidates.

The union also demanded the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors benefiting from the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022, as well as the dissolution and reconstitution of management teams of FCT SEB and FCT UBEB.

The NLC directed workers in both public and private sectors, including affiliate unions in schools, hospitals, offices and government institutions, to withdraw their services from October 7 until its demands are fully addressed.

In a counter move, ASUSS announced the establishment of enforcement committees to mobilise workers and monitor compliance with the strike directive across the FCT.

“Teachers are not core civil servants nor pool staff and cannot be subjected to vacancy-based promotion meant for pool officers.

“The FCTA’s attempt to sustain industrial harmony without addressing injustice is mere wishful thinking. There can be no peace without justice,” Adalo stated.

The NLC appealed to parents, FCT residents and civil society groups to support the action, warning that failure to resolve the dispute could lead to a total breakdown of the territory’s education sector.

The union dissociated itself from the strike, describing the stay-at-home directive as premature and warning that it could undermine the stability of the education sector and negatively affect students in the nation’s capital.

According to ASUSS, the educational future of students should not be sacrificed because of labour disagreements, stressing that disputes affecting teachers and education administrators should be resolved through constructive engagement and established administrative procedures.

Reacting to the major concerns raised by NUT, ASUSS presented its position on the three key issues at the centre of the disagreement.

On the matter of vacancies, the union explained that the requirement remains a statutory provision under the Public Service Rules (PSR), which regulates establishment control and financial planning within the public service.

It argued that any adjustment to existing career structures must follow proper administrative consultations rather than being achieved through industrial action.

ASUSS further stated that the administrative arrangements affecting some teachers had already been resolved, noting that the 2025 promotion exercise would run alongside the 2026 promotion cycle under the supervision of the FCT Civil Service Commission.

The union said the arrangement was clearly contained in circulars issued in September 2026.

On the redeployment of education agency directors to classrooms, ASUSS maintained that the decision was within the legitimate authority of management as part of efforts to strengthen administrative coordination and ensure order in the education system.

The union also alleged that the strike was designed to frustrate the planned 2025/2026 promotion examinations for FCT Education Officers.

ASUSS consequently directed all eligible Education Officers to participate in the promotion examinations in line with the approved timetable.

It also appealed to parents and guardians in the FCT to continue sending their children and wards to school, assuring them that academic activities would continue without disruption.

The union issued specific instructions to secondary school principals, vice-principals and education officers, directing that all schools must remain open for teaching and administrative activities.

It further ordered teachers to report to their respective classrooms, discharge their duties effectively and ensure students receive uninterrupted learning.

ASUSS warned school authorities against obeying directives from unauthorised individuals or groups seeking to interfere with the academic calendar.

The union also mandated school administrators to monitor attendance and maintain a safe and conducive learning environment, describing students as innocent victims of avoidable industrial conflicts.

The incident happened on Sunday at a hotel in the Mosco area of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

According to report, the lecturer had checked into the hotel with the sex worker and died moments after the romp.

Confirming the development on Tuesday, the Spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, said three persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.

She said, “On October 5, 2026, at about 8 pm, the command received a report that Matthew Uwuigbe, a lecturer at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, had lodged at a hotel in Ekpoma and engaged the services of a 21-year-old sex worker, Angela Defa Jacob.

“He subsequently sent the woman to purchase water for him, and upon her return, she found him lying dead in the room.”

Ikoedem said the hotel owner, the manager and the sex worker are currently in custody while investigation continues. The corpse, she added, has been deposited at the Oriaifo Memorial Hospital mortuary.

Meanwhile, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, confirmed to PM News that Uwuigbe is a staff member of the institution, but said the incident occurred outside the campus.

“We are not denying that he is our staff, but whatever he did and what happened, it is his private life. The girl in question is not our student, and everything happened outside our institution.”