FCT teachers protest delayed promotions, reject ‘vacancy rule’

Scores of teachers under 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, over prolonged delays in their promotions and career progression.

The aggrieved teachers accused the authorities of subjecting them to bureaucratic bottlenecks that have stalled their advancement despite meeting all promotion requirements.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Complete the 2024 promotion exercise now,” “Teachers are not pool staff,” and “Our services count, not empty chairs,” the protesters demanded the immediate conclusion of the 2024 promotion exercise.

The teachers also rejected the controversial “vacancy rule,” which they said has been used by civil service authorities to deny them promotion despite passing the required qualifying examinations.

According to NUT leaders, hundreds of qualified teachers have remained on the same grade level for years due to delays in the promotion process, a development they said has negatively affected morale in public schools across the FCT.

The union 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 relevant civil service authorities address their demands.