Teachers in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), on Monday staged a protest in Abuja over the use of the “vacancy rule” as a condition for promotion, disrupting the ongoing promotion examination for thousands of civil servants.
Gatekeepers News reports that the protesters marched to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), where the 2025 promotion exercise for about 13,000 FCT administration workers was taking place.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Complete the 2024 promotion exercise now,” “Teachers are not pool staff,” and “Our services count, not empty chairs,” they demanded the immediate release of outstanding 2024 promotion letters, implementation of the promotions, and payment of all outstanding entitlements.
Speaking during the demonstration, NUT FCT Chairman Abdullahi Shafas argued that teachers should be promoted based on merit and success in promotion examinations rather than the availability of vacancies.
He maintained that applying the vacancy rule to teachers would unfairly hinder career progression, especially given the unique nature of their work and the security challenges many face in rural communities.
Shafas also lamented that many teachers remain poorly paid despite their contributions to national development, with some still earning between ₦50,000 and ₦60,000 monthly. He urged the FCT Civil Service Commission to engage the union through dialogue, warning that prolonged delays had forced teachers out of classrooms and disrupted learning for pupils.
Responding to the protest, Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh, defended the policy, saying promotions across the FCT civil service are governed by established rules and that vacancies are necessary because they have financial and establishment implications. Despite the explanation, the union vowed to sustain its protest and continue withdrawing its services until its demands are addressed.
