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Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has rejected the indefinite strike declared by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, directing secondary school teachers and education officers to resume their normal duties.
ASUSS, in a statement issued on Wednesday after an emergency meeting of its State Executive Council (SEC), said the NUT action was premature and could disrupt academic activities and the education of students across the territory.
The union urged teachers to disregard the stay-at-home directive and report to their respective classrooms, stressing that students should not become victims of industrial disputes.
ASUSS said it had reviewed the issues raised by the NUT and concluded that they could be resolved through administrative dialogue and established procedures rather than industrial action.
On the requirement for vacancies, the union maintained that the provision was a statutory requirement under the Public Service Rules governing establishment control and financial planning.
It said any proposed changes to career structures should be addressed through administrative engagement with the relevant authorities.
On the contentious promotion issue, ASUSS said the administrative framework for affected teachers had already been resolved, with the 2025 promotion exercise scheduled to run concurrently with the 2026 promotion cycle under the FCT Civil Service Commission.
According to the union, the arrangement is in line with circulars issued in September 2026.
It also defended the redeployment of education agency directors to classrooms, saying such decisions fall within the statutory powers of management to ensure administrative order and effective service delivery.
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ASUSS further raised concerns that the NUT strike could disrupt the scheduled 2025/2026 promotion examinations for FCT Education Officers.
It therefore called on all eligible education officers to participate in the promotion examinations in accordance with the published timetable.
The union appealed to parents and guardians across the FCT to send their children to school, assuring them that academic activities would continue despite the NUT’s industrial action.
ASUSS directed secondary school principals, vice-principals and education officers to keep schools open for academic and administrative activities.
It also instructed teachers to report to their classrooms and perform their normal duties, while directing school authorities to monitor attendance and ensure a safe and conducive learning environment.
The union further asked its members to disregard directives from what it described as unauthorised bodies seeking to disrupt the academic calendar.
ASUSS called on all parties to return to the negotiating table, insisting that the grievances should be resolved through dialogue and established administrative procedures rather than shutting down schools.
“Our students should not become victims of industrial disputes,” the union said.
