The ongoing strike by the FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers has taken a new turn, with secondary school teachers dissociating themselves from the industrial action, insisting they will continue academic activities despite the shutdown order.
The development comes just hours after the union commenced an indefinite strike on Monday, over unresolved welfare and administrative issues, following the expiration of a series of ultimata issued to authorities.
But the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, FCT Chapter, has declared that its members will not be part of the action, citing constitutional and labour protections.
The FCT chairman of ASUSS, Comrade Julius Ogundiran, told the media that the union operates independently of the NUT and cannot be bound by its directives.
He anchored the position on Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 12(4) of labour laws, insisting that membership of any trade union remains voluntary.
“ASUSS is an independent professional body, mainly for the secondary school teachers, with its own constitution, structure and leadership. Our members (secondary school teachers) are not subject to the authority or directives of the NUT,” he said.
Ogundiran maintained that secondary school teachers under ASUSS had resolved to remain in their duty posts and continue teaching without disruption, even as the strike action unfolds across public schools.
His position comes against the backdrop of the directive issued by the NUT State Wing Executive Council, SWEC, which ordered all public primary and secondary school teachers to withdraw services indefinitely following what it described as government’s failure to meet long-standing demands.
The NUT action, contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency SWEC, is expected to shut down academic activities across the FCT, barely months after schools resumed following a previous 14-week strike suspended in July 2025.
Ogundiran, however, said many of the issues raised by the NUT, particularly promotion-related matters, had already been “substantially addressed” by the Office of the Head of Service and other relevant authorities, with promotion letters currently being released in batches.
He added that the Joint Union Action Committee, JUAC, had engaged on the issues, describing the ongoing strike as unnecessary for ASUSS members.
The ASUSS chairman raised concerns over what he described as “credible reports of intimidation, harassment and attempts to obstruct” his members from working, allegedly by persons enforcing the NUT strike directive.
He called on authorities to protect secondary school teachers from interference and to issue an official circular clarifying their right to continue work.
“ASUSS remains committed to maintaining industrial harmony, upholding professional standards and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of quality education within the FCT,” he said.
