The Federal Capital Territory Administration has rejected allegations that it is harassing teachers over its ongoing reforms in the education sector, saying its decisions on redeployment, promotions and administrative changes are based on existing laws and civil service regulations.
The FCTA’s response followed an opinion piece by U. Ndagi titled, “Letters: Wike, stop harassing FCT teachers,” published on September 19, 2026.
A senior FCTA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the return of senior education administrators to classroom teaching was in line with an implementation circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF.
The official cited Section II(e) of the circular, which provides for the deployment of affected personnel as classroom teachers or quality assurance officers.
“The Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act 2022—which extended service length to 40 years or 65 years of age—was specifically designed to retain experienced educators where they are needed most: in the classroom.
“Administrative seniority does not exempt educators from direct instruction, and utilizing senior experience directly benefits students across the territory,” the official stated.
The official also dismissed allegations of victimisation over recent changes at the FCT Secondary Education Board, SEB, and Universal Basic Education Board, FCT-UBEB, describing the realignments as routine administrative measures aimed at improving efficiency and enforcing institutional discipline.
On promotions, the FCTA said advancement in the public service must be based on approved cadres, establishment quotas and available budgetary provisions.
“Matching promotions to existing vacancies prevents establishment distortion and maintains institutional order.
“Respect for the teaching profession is demonstrated through structured accountability, improved working conditions, and adherence to established laws—not through turning a blind eye to administrative irregularities,” the official asserted.
The administration also pointed to an ongoing rehabilitation programme across the six area councils, saying the initiative was aimed at addressing infrastructure deficiencies in schools.
It added that students’ performance in national examinations, including the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, and West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WAEC, depends on factors such as curriculum delivery, institutional discipline and improved facilities.
The FCTA’s position comes as the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, FCT Council, and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, FCT Wing, push back against some of the administration’s policies and threaten industrial action.
In a correspondence signed by NUT State Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Shafa, and State Secretary, Comrade Margaret Jethro, the union argued that returning senior directors to classroom duties could demoralise teachers and disrupt administrative continuity.
The unions are demanding the removal of the vacancy clause, reinstatement of teachers eligible for promotion in 2025, and an end to the redeployment of senior education officials to classroom duties.
NLC FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Knabayi Adalo, issued an ultimatum over the demands, warning that failure to address them would lead to an indefinite strike.
“Failure to meet these demands within the stipulated period will leave the congress with no option than to direct all workers in the FCT to embark on an indefinite strike action until our demands are met.”
But the proposed strike does not have the backing of all the teachers’ unions.
The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, FCT Chapter, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, has dissociated itself from the action and backed the FCTA’s authority to deploy personnel.
ASUSS also agreed that promotions in the civil service should be tied to established vacancies and fiscal sustainability.
Meanwhile, a recent judgment of the National Industrial Court has addressed the question of staff redeployment.
The case involved a Grade Level 17 Education Officer and former Director at the Ministry of Defence who turned 61 under the 2022 Act and challenged her reassignment to Command Secondary School, Ibadan.
The court ruled that public employers retain the authority to redeploy their staff as they deem fit, subject to the law.
With the strike deadline approaching, the dispute over redeployment and promotion rules remains unresolved between the FCTA and the unions.
