JUST-IN: FCT Teachers Protest Delayed Promotions, Reject ‘Vacancy Rule’

Scores of teachers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wing, on Monday staged a protest at the National Open University, Dutse-Alhaji, along the Kubwa Expressway in Abuja, demanding the immediate conclusion of the 2024 promotion exercise and an end to what they described as years of stalled career progression.

The aggrieved teachers expressed frustration over what they described as bureaucratic bottlenecks preventing their advancement despite meeting all the requirements for promotion.

The protesters gathered outside the institution, carrying placards and demanding the immediate release of their promotion letters.

They also rejected the “vacancy rule,” which they said civil service authorities had used to deny them career progression despite meeting the required promotion criteria and passing the qualifying examinations.

One of the placards read, “Complete the 2024 promotion exercise now,” while others bore inscriptions such as “Teachers are not pool staff” and “Our services count, not empty chairs.”

According to union leaders, hundreds of qualified teachers have remained on the same grade level for years due to delays in the promotion process, a situation they said has severely affected morale and productivity across public schools in the Federal Capital Territory.

The NUT FCT Wing is demanding the immediate release of all outstanding 2024 promotion letters, full financial implementation of the promotions, and payment of all outstanding entitlements.

The teachers vowed to sustain the protest and withdraw their services until the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the relevant civil service authorities address their demands.