05/09/2026
NTC Replies NUT: "We Are Civil Society, Not Government" — Denies Usurping Powers in Oyo Teachers’ Promotion Probe
IBADAN, Oyo State — September 5, 2026
The Nigeria Teachers Congress, NTC, has responded to the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Oyo State Wing, insisting that its invitation for teachers to submit evidence on alleged irregularities in promotions was a civil-society intervention and not an attempt to exercise government powers.
In a letter dated September 5th, 2026 with reference NTC/OY/NUT 2026/001, addressed to the NUT State Secretary, the NTC said it viewed the union’s September 4th query “with mixed feelings” but does not regard the NUT as an adversary.
The exchange stems from an NTC circular of September 2nd inviting teachers to voluntarily submit petitions and documentary evidence on “conflicting promotions.” The NUT had questioned the NTC’s legal mandate, status, and authority to request confidential employment documents.
NTC: We Did Not Claim Government Authority
The Congress stated clearly that it “did not purport to constitute a government investigation, disciplinary proceeding, administrative hearing or statutory inquiry.”
“There is a fundamental distinction between exercising statutory coercive powers and receiving complaints and conducting independent civil-society fact-finding or advocacy,” the letter signed by Secretary-General Medupin Opeyemi said.
The NTC described itself as an NGO/civil-society organisation and not a government regulatory agency, trade union, or statutory employer of teachers. It added that being outside government is “precisely what gives an independent civil-society organisation the ability to raise questions about administrative practices without being institutionally conflicted.”
Why We Intervened
According to the NTC, the move followed complaints from teachers about “alleged conflicting grade levels, withdrawal of promotion letters, unexplained disparities in promotion outcomes, unclear promotion criteria, omissions and other alleged irregularities.”
Rather than dismiss the complaints, the group said it asked for “valid, verifiable and evidential materials” so allegations could be examined, documented, and where necessary, forwarded to competent authorities.
On anonymity, the NTC said it was to protect teachers from “victimisation, intimidation, discrimination or other adverse consequences,” stressing that anonymous submissions would still be subjected to verification.
No Compulsion, Says NTC
Responding directly to the NUT’s fourth question, the Congress clarified that it “did not issue a compulsory legal demand backed by coercive authority.” It said teachers were only invited to voluntarily forward documents and that sensitive information would be handled confidentially with redaction or anonymisation where necessary.
"Accountability Is Not An Attack"
The NTC expressed concern that the NUT’s letter implied its intervention was inappropriate because the NUT is the recognized trade union.
“The existence of a trade union does not extinguish the legitimate role of civil-society organisations... in raising questions concerning public administration and the welfare of teachers,” the letter stated. It urged the NUT to see the move as “an opportunity for all stakeholders to work together” rather than a threat.
The Congress said it expected “collaboration, not confrontation,” and noted that both bodies have worked together in the past.
NTC Turns Four Questions Back to NUT
In the same letter, the NTC asked the NUT Oyo State Wing to clarify:
1. What mechanism exists within the NUT for receiving and independently verifying complaints on conflicting promotions?
2. How many formal complaints on the current promotion exercise has the NUT received and what action has been taken?
3. What formal steps has the NUT taken with government authorities where evidence of conflicting outcomes was presented?
4. Will the NUT collaborate with the NTC in establishing facts rather than treating an independent inquiry as a threat?
"We Have Not Pre-Judged Anyone"
The NTC emphasized it has “not declared any government agency, school authority, officer or the NUT guilty of wrongdoing,” and will acknowledge if evidence shows no irregularity occurred.
“Our guiding principle remains: Justice does not belong exclusively to the institution being questioned; justice belongs to everyone,” the letter concluded.
The NTC said it remains willing to engage constructively with the NUT and to refer matters requiring statutory determination to the appropriate authorities.
The NUT Oyo State Wing is yet to respond to the NTC’s latest letter and the four counter-questions.
