Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), on Monday staged a mass protest at the entrance of the FCT Minister’s office and picketed the office of the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission over the introduction of a vacancy-based promotion policy.
The protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission’s decision to make the availability of vacancies a prerequisite for promotion during the 2024 promotion exercise, a development they said has denied more than 86 per cent of eligible teachers their deserved promotions.
The demonstration temporarily disrupted activities at the Commission’s headquarters as union members blocked access to the Chairman’s office while calling for urgent government intervention.
Addressing the protesters, the Chairman of the NUT, FCT Wing, Abdullahi Mohammed Shafa, said the protest became necessary after several efforts by the union to engage the Commission through dialogue failed to yield results.
Shafa alleged that the promotion delays became more pronounced under the current leadership of the Commission, stressing that many teachers who successfully passed the 2024 promotion examination were denied advancement because of the newly introduced vacancy requirement.
“Teachers sat for the promotion examination, passed, and expected to be promoted as was the practice. Instead, the Commission introduced the issue of vacancies, leaving many qualified teachers without promotion. Up till now, the 2024 promotion exercise has not been concluded, yet another promotion examination is being proposed for this year. We cannot continue to progress in error,” he said.
He warned that if the issue is not addressed, the union may have no option but to embark on an industrial action.
According to him, the protest was aimed at drawing the attention of the FCT Minister to what the union described as an unjust policy that threatens the career progression and welfare of teachers across the territory.
Shafa maintained that the struggle extends beyond those affected by the 2024 exercise, noting that the vacancy-based promotion policy could adversely affect every teacher in the FCT in the future.
He argued that the policy unfairly delays career advancement, affects salaries and other entitlements, lowers staff morale, and could keep qualified teachers on the same grade level for years despite meeting all promotion requirements.
The union is therefore demanding the immediate withdrawal of the vacancy-based promotion policy and a comprehensive review of the 2024 promotion exercise.
The NUT also warned that teachers could boycott the proposed 2025 promotion examination if the unresolved issues surrounding the 2024 exercise are not addressed.
Shafa further lamented the growing loss of experienced teachers to neighbouring states, attributing the trend to poor welfare and delayed promotions.
“We are already facing a shortage of teachers in our schools, yet the few available are being treated unfairly. Many are considering taking appointments in neighbouring states because of these conditions. This is unacceptable,” he said.
The union appealed to the FCT Administration and other relevant authorities to urgently intervene and ensure that qualified teachers receive their rightful promotions.
It warned that failure to address the grievances could compel teachers across the territory to embark on a full-scale strike in defence of their rights and welfare.
