ASUSS FCT: Rejects NLC Strike, Urges Teachers to Report

• The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) FCT Chapter has rejected the indefinite strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
• ASUSS Chairman Mr. Julius Ogundiran directed secondary school teachers and education officers to report for duties, contrary to the NLC's mandate.
• The union deemed the NLC's strike premature and detrimental to student academic progress, criticizing frequent, baseless industrial actions.
• ASUSS argued that the three main grievances cited by the NLC/NUT were either already addressed administratively or required negotiation, not a strike.
• Ogundiran warned the strike could disrupt upcoming promotion examinations and urged parents to send their children to school.

He emphasized that the academic future and destiny of Nigerian children in classrooms should never be jeopardized or held hostage during instances of industrial disagreement.

The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has publicly disavowed the indefinite strike mandate issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). This decision, announced by ASUSS FCT Chairman Mr. Julius Ogundiran in Abuja on Wednesday, directly contradicts the NLC's directive for all FCT Administration employees, including those in the private sector, to commence an indefinite industrial action.

The NLC's call for a strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum delivered to the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike. This ultimatum stemmed from ongoing labor disputes and policy concerns specifically impacting teachers within the territory. In response to the NLC's directive, the FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had instructed both primary and secondary school educators to remain at home. However, ASUSS has taken a divergent path, urging its members to disregard the stay-at-home order and resume their professional duties.

Mr. Ogundiran's directive for secondary school teachers and education officers to report for normal academic duties was a direct outcome of an emergency State Executive Council meeting held by ASUSS. During this meeting, the union thoroughly reviewed the prevailing situation and collectively resolved to reject the proposed strike action.

ASUSS characterized the industrial action as both premature and potentially harmful to the educational welfare and academic advancement of students across the FCT. Ogundiran emphasized that the academic future and destiny of Nigerian children in classrooms should never be jeopardized or held hostage during instances of industrial disagreement. He further articulated the union's and its members' growing opposition to what he described as frequent, unfounded, and premature strikes, asserting that such actions do little to foster genuine industrial harmony within the education sector.

Ogundiran meticulously addressed the three primary grievances put forth by the NUT, asserting that none of them provided sufficient justification for immediate industrial action. Regarding the demand for the removal of the vacancy requirement for teachers' promotion, he clarified that this provision remains an established statutory requirement under the Public Service Rules. He argued that issues concerning establishment frameworks and financial approvals necessitate administrative negotiation and engagement, rather than abrupt industrial action.

Concerning the alleged omission of certain teachers from the upcoming 2025 promotion examination, Ogundiran stated that the FCT Administration had already taken administrative steps to resolve the matter. He contended that initiating a strike over an issue that has already received administrative redress is entirely unwarranted. Furthermore, addressing the redeployment of some education directors back to classrooms, Ogundiran explained that this exercise falls squarely within the administrative authority of management, aimed at maintaining order and ensuring compliance with statutory standards within the public service.

The ASUSS FCT chairman also raised concerns that the strike appeared to be an attempt to disrupt the scheduled 2025/2026 promotion examinations for eligible FCT education officers. In light of this, he reiterated his directive for ASUSS members to ignore the stay-at-home order and ensure their attendance for scheduled assessments.

Beyond the immediate dispute, Ogundiran appealed to parents and guardians throughout the FCT to send their children and wards to school for normal activities. He reassured the public of ASUSS's unwavering commitment to professional integrity, social responsibility, and the sustained promotion of industrial harmony within the education sector.

Source: Original reporting via Agency Report