Teachers in junior and senior secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), on Thursday staged a protest over the alleged delay in the release of their promotion letters by the FCT Civil Service Commission, demanding the resignation of the commission’s chairman, Emeka Eze.
The protesting teachers, carried placards with inscriptions such as “We Need Our Promotion Now,” “Remove Vacancy Barrier,” “No Vacancy, No Justice,” “Don’t Stagnate Our Careers,” and “Emeka Eze Must Resign”, among others.
The protesters marched to the premises of the FCT Civil Service Commission before proceeding to the main gate of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), accompanied by security operatives.
Addressing journalists, FCT NUT Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, said the union embarked on the peaceful protest over the non-promotion of teachers in both junior and senior secondary schools.
According to him, teachers promoted since 2024 have yet to receive their promotion letters, prompting the union to draw the attention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to the issue.
Shafas said the union had previously met with the minister, who assured them he would personally address the matter.
“We met with the minister a few months ago on the issue of teachers’ promotion, and he assured us he would handle it personally. Since then, we have not heard anything again,” he said.
He faulted the commission’s insistence on applying vacancy requirements to teachers, arguing that teachers in active service should not be subjected to such restrictions before being promoted.
“Teachers in the classroom should not be placed under a vacancy system. Once they are due for promotion, they should be promoted, given their letters and entitlements, and allowed to progress in their careers,” he said.
Shafas also expressed concern that while the 2024 promotions remained unresolved, the commission was already planning the 2025 promotion exercise.
He appealed to the minister to urgently intervene and ensure the release of the promotion letters and payment of all outstanding entitlements.
Receiving the union’s letter on behalf of the minister, Mr. Festus Okoro, an Assistant Director in the Security Services Department of the FCT Administration, commended the teachers for conducting themselves peacefully.
He assured the protesters that their grievances would be conveyed to the minister for necessary action.