Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory have staged a protest over delayed promotions, demanding the immediate completion of the 2024 promotion exercise and the release of outstanding promotion letters.
The protesting teachers, under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) expressed their displeasure expressed dissatisfaction carrying placards with various inscriptions including “Complete the 2024 promotion exercise now,” “Teachers are not pool staff,” and “Our services count, not empty chairs,”stating that many eligible teachers have remained on the same grade levels for several years, affecting motivation and performance in public schools.
The protest which took place on Monday at the National Open University, Dutse-Alhaji, along the Kubwa Expressway in Abuja, also saw the educationists oppose the application of the “vacancy rule,” which they said has been used to prevent qualified personnel from progressing in their careers even after successfully passing promotion examinations and meeting other stipulated conditions.
They held that the unwanted situation is unfair and has negatively affected their morale and demandes for the immediate issuance of all pending 2024 promotion letters, full implementation of the promotions with corresponding financial benefits, and the settlement of all outstanding entitlements owed to affected teachers.
Furthermore, the union leaders maintained that the unresolved promotion issues have contributed to frustration among teachers and could undermine the quality of education if left unattended.
The aggrieved teachers warned that they would continue the protest and withhold their services until the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and relevant civil service authorities address their concerns and conclude the promotion exercise.