FCT Teachers Protest Promotion Exam Criteria for 13,000 Workers

On Monday, teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) disrupted a promotion examination for 13,000 workers, protesting against the criteria that required vacancies for promotions. The protest was led by Mr. Abdullahi Shafa, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, who appealed to Mr. Emeka Ezeh, the chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, to remove the vacancy condition.

Shafa argued that promotions should be based on merit and performance rather than available vacancies, which he claimed would stagnate teachers' career progress. The protest highlighted the difficult working conditions teachers face, including security challenges, and emphasized that teachers are among the least paid public servants in the country, earning between N50,000 and N60,000 monthly.

Mr. Margaret Jethro, the union's secretary, reiterated the demand for merit-based promotions and called for the establishment of a teacher service commission. The protest resulted in teachers leaving classrooms, impacting students' education.