FCT Teachers Protest Delayed Promotions, Threaten Indefinite Strike.

FCT Teachers Protest Delayed Promotions, Threaten Indefinite Strike . Abuja — Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wing, on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Abuja over the prolonged delay in the implementation of their 2024 promotion exercise, threatening to sustain industrial action until their demands are met.

The protesting teachers converged at the Open University, Dutse-Alhaji, along the Kubwa Expressway, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs as they demanded the immediate release of their promotion letters and career progression.The teachers accused relevant civil service authorities of frustrating their advancement through what they described as unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks.

They particularly rejected the application of the “vacancy rule,” insisting that it has been used to deny qualified teachers promotions despite meeting all stipulated requirements and passing the necessary examinations.Placards displayed during the protest bore inscriptions such as, “Complete the 2024 promotion exercise now,” “Teachers are not pool staff,” and “Our services count, not empty chairs.”Union leaders said hundreds of qualified teachers across public primary schools in the Federal Capital Territory have remained on the same grade level for years due to delays in the promotion process, a development they said has adversely affected staff morale and productivity.

The NUT FCT Wing is demanding the immediate conclusion of the 2024 promotion exercise, the release of all outstanding promotion letters, full financial implementation of the promotions, and payment of all outstanding entitlements owed to affected teachers.The union warned that its members would continue the protest and withdraw their services until the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the relevant civil service authorities address their grievances.