FCT teachers disrupt promotion test for 13,000 workers

Teachers in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory (FCT) disrupted promotion examinations for approximately 13,000 workers on Monday, protesting the inclusion of vacancy as a prerequisite for advancement. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, argued that this criterion hinders career progression and is unjust for educators.

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The application of vacancy-based promotion for teachers is unjust and detrimental to the teaching profession.

Mr. Abdullahi Shafas, the union chairman, led the protest at the National Open University headquarters, the venue for the examinations. He appealed to the FCT Civil Service Commission Chairman, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, to remove the vacancy condition. Shafas emphasized that teachers are not pool staff and should be promoted based on merit and successful performance in examinations, not on the availability of positions.

"The application of vacancy-based promotion for teachers is unjust and detrimental to the teaching profession," Shafas stated. He further argued that teachers deserve special consideration due to the unique nature of their work and the difficult conditions they often face, including security challenges in urban and rural communities. He warned that stagnating teachers' careers would further discourage them and undermine the education sector.

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Teachers should be promoted based on merit and successful performance in promotion examinations rather than the availability of vacancies.

The union also pointed to the persistently low salaries of teachers in Nigeria, contrasting them with international standards. Shafas noted that some teachers earn between N50,000 and N60,000 monthly, making it difficult to survive in the capital city. He stressed that a teacher who passes a promotion examination should be promoted. Shafas urged Ezeh to engage in dialogue with the union to resolve the dispute, noting that the prolonged delays have forced teachers out of classrooms, negatively impacting students.

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We deserve special consideration because of the unique nature of our work and the difficult conditions under which many of us serve.

Shafas insisted that the agitation is solely aimed at protecting teachers' rights and ensuring fair career progression, dismissing allegations of political motivation. The disruption of classes and examinations highlights the urgency of the teachers' demands for improved working conditions and recognition.

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Our members are not in the classrooms today because they are demanding what they believe is their legitimate right but those who suffer most are the children.