NLC, NUT reject Wike’s no-work, no-pay threat over FCT strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have rejected Minister Nyesom Wike’s directive to withhold the salaries of workers participating in the ongoing strike, describing the policy as illegal and unenforceable. The unions said the planned enforcement of the no-work, no-pay policy and the monitoring of school attendance would not deter workers from continuing the strike. In separate circulars issued to members, Knabayi Adalo, chairman of the NLC FCT Council, and Margaret Jethro, secretary of the NUT FCT Wing, urged workers to remain on strike. The dispute follows an indefinite strike declared by the NLC on October 7 over unresolved issues between the FCT Administration and teachers. Wike had directed area council chairmen to enforce the no-work, no-pay policy against striking workers. He also instructed the FCT head of civil service, principals and headteachers to maintain daily attendance registers to identify absentees. Adalo argued that the strike was lawful and that the administration could not withhold salaries from workers participating in industrial action arising from unresolved labour disputes. He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, the Trade Unions Act and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87, 98 and 151, which he said protect workers’ rights to organise and embark on industrial action, subject to applicable legal requirements. He also argued that Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, which provides for the no-work, no-pay principle, applied to illegal strikes and should not be used against workers participating in lawful industrial action. Adalo attributed the strike to unresolved issues concerning teachers’ promotions and the demotion of directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. The union is demanding the removal of the vacancy clause affecting teachers’ promotions, the conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and the reinstatement of demoted directors. Adalo urged the FCT Administration to address the demands rather than threaten salary deductions or monitor attendance. He also cited previous judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which he said supported workers’ salary claims in certain circumstances involving industrial action. The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

The unions said the planned enforcement of the no-work, no-pay policy and the monitoring of school attendance would not deter workers from continuing the strike. In separate circulars issued to members, Knabayi Adalo, chairman of the NLC FCT Council, and Margaret Jethro, secretary of the NUT FCT Wing, urged workers to remain on strike. The dispute follows an indefinite strike declared by the NLC on October 7 over unresolved issues between the FCT Administration and teachers. Wike had directed area council chairmen to enforce the no-work, no-pay policy against striking workers. He also instructed the FCT head of civil service, principals and headteachers to maintain daily attendance registers to identify absentees. Adalo argued that the strike was lawful and that the administration could not withhold salaries from workers participating in industrial action arising from unresolved labour disputes. He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, the Trade Unions Act and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87, 98 and 151, which he said protect workers’ rights to organise and embark on industrial action, subject to applicable legal requirements. He also argued that Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, which provides for the no-work, no-pay principle, applied to illegal strikes and should not be used against workers participating in lawful industrial action. Adalo attributed the strike to unresolved issues concerning teachers’ promotions and the demotion of directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. The union is demanding the removal of the vacancy clause affecting teachers’ promotions, the conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and the reinstatement of demoted directors. Adalo urged the FCT Administration to address the demands rather than threaten salary deductions or monitor attendance. He also cited previous judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which he said supported workers’ salary claims in certain circumstances involving industrial action. The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

In separate circulars issued to members, Knabayi Adalo, chairman of the NLC FCT Council, and Margaret Jethro, secretary of the NUT FCT Wing, urged workers to remain on strike. The dispute follows an indefinite strike declared by the NLC on October 7 over unresolved issues between the FCT Administration and teachers. Wike had directed area council chairmen to enforce the no-work, no-pay policy against striking workers. He also instructed the FCT head of civil service, principals and headteachers to maintain daily attendance registers to identify absentees. Adalo argued that the strike was lawful and that the administration could not withhold salaries from workers participating in industrial action arising from unresolved labour disputes. He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, the Trade Unions Act and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87, 98 and 151, which he said protect workers’ rights to organise and embark on industrial action, subject to applicable legal requirements. He also argued that Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, which provides for the no-work, no-pay principle, applied to illegal strikes and should not be used against workers participating in lawful industrial action. Adalo attributed the strike to unresolved issues concerning teachers’ promotions and the demotion of directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. The union is demanding the removal of the vacancy clause affecting teachers’ promotions, the conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and the reinstatement of demoted directors. Adalo urged the FCT Administration to address the demands rather than threaten salary deductions or monitor attendance. He also cited previous judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which he said supported workers’ salary claims in certain circumstances involving industrial action. The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

The dispute follows an indefinite strike declared by the NLC on October 7 over unresolved issues between the FCT Administration and teachers. Wike had directed area council chairmen to enforce the no-work, no-pay policy against striking workers. He also instructed the FCT head of civil service, principals and headteachers to maintain daily attendance registers to identify absentees. Adalo argued that the strike was lawful and that the administration could not withhold salaries from workers participating in industrial action arising from unresolved labour disputes. He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, the Trade Unions Act and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87, 98 and 151, which he said protect workers’ rights to organise and embark on industrial action, subject to applicable legal requirements. He also argued that Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, which provides for the no-work, no-pay principle, applied to illegal strikes and should not be used against workers participating in lawful industrial action. Adalo attributed the strike to unresolved issues concerning teachers’ promotions and the demotion of directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. The union is demanding the removal of the vacancy clause affecting teachers’ promotions, the conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and the reinstatement of demoted directors. Adalo urged the FCT Administration to address the demands rather than threaten salary deductions or monitor attendance. He also cited previous judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which he said supported workers’ salary claims in certain circumstances involving industrial action. The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

Adalo argued that the strike was lawful and that the administration could not withhold salaries from workers participating in industrial action arising from unresolved labour disputes. He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, the Trade Unions Act and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87, 98 and 151, which he said protect workers’ rights to organise and embark on industrial action, subject to applicable legal requirements. He also argued that Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, which provides for the no-work, no-pay principle, applied to illegal strikes and should not be used against workers participating in lawful industrial action. Adalo attributed the strike to unresolved issues concerning teachers’ promotions and the demotion of directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. The union is demanding the removal of the vacancy clause affecting teachers’ promotions, the conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and the reinstatement of demoted directors. Adalo urged the FCT Administration to address the demands rather than threaten salary deductions or monitor attendance. He also cited previous judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which he said supported workers’ salary claims in certain circumstances involving industrial action. The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, the Trade Unions Act and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87, 98 and 151, which he said protect workers’ rights to organise and embark on industrial action, subject to applicable legal requirements. He also argued that Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, which provides for the no-work, no-pay principle, applied to illegal strikes and should not be used against workers participating in lawful industrial action. Adalo attributed the strike to unresolved issues concerning teachers’ promotions and the demotion of directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. The union is demanding the removal of the vacancy clause affecting teachers’ promotions, the conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and the reinstatement of demoted directors. Adalo urged the FCT Administration to address the demands rather than threaten salary deductions or monitor attendance. He also cited previous judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which he said supported workers’ salary claims in certain circumstances involving industrial action. The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

He also argued that Section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act, which provides for the no-work, no-pay principle, applied to illegal strikes and should not be used against workers participating in lawful industrial action. Adalo attributed the strike to unresolved issues concerning teachers’ promotions and the demotion of directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. The union is demanding the removal of the vacancy clause affecting teachers’ promotions, the conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and the reinstatement of demoted directors. Adalo urged the FCT Administration to address the demands rather than threaten salary deductions or monitor attendance. He also cited previous judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which he said supported workers’ salary claims in certain circumstances involving industrial action. The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

Adalo attributed the strike to unresolved issues concerning teachers’ promotions and the demotion of directors covered by the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022. The union is demanding the removal of the vacancy clause affecting teachers’ promotions, the conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and the reinstatement of demoted directors. Adalo urged the FCT Administration to address the demands rather than threaten salary deductions or monitor attendance. He also cited previous judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which he said supported workers’ salary claims in certain circumstances involving industrial action. The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

The union is demanding the removal of the vacancy clause affecting teachers’ promotions, the conduct of the 2025 promotion exercise and the reinstatement of demoted directors. Adalo urged the FCT Administration to address the demands rather than threaten salary deductions or monitor attendance. He also cited previous judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which he said supported workers’ salary claims in certain circumstances involving industrial action. The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

Adalo urged the FCT Administration to address the demands rather than threaten salary deductions or monitor attendance. He also cited previous judgments of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which he said supported workers’ salary claims in certain circumstances involving industrial action. The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

The NLC directed members not to sign attendance registers opened during the strike, arguing that the exercise was intended to identify workers for possible disciplinary action. It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

It warned that principals and headteachers who forced teachers to sign the registers or submitted attendance records for punitive measures could face union sanctions, including picketing. Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

Adalo also urged workers facing disciplinary queries or harassment to report to the NLC FCT Council Secretariat with supporting evidence. Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

Jethro, in a separate statement, urged teachers to remain on strike despite the threat of salary deductions. She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

She said the union’s demands concerned teachers’ welfare and were not politically motivated. The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

The NUT secretary also criticised the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) for withdrawing from the strike, accusing it of abandoning teachers. Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share

Both unions urged members to remain peaceful and law-abiding while calling on the FCT Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. Related News More Nigerians become poorer as multidimensional poverty rate rises to 38.7%, UN Nigeria’s industrial funding will fail without fixing the constraints facing factories Air bombardment kills 40 terrorists planning attack on Borno village Share