‘Vacancy Rule’: Teachers take to Abuja streets over promotion delays

Hundreds of teachers, members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT Wing, protested on Monday at the National Open University, Dutse-Alhaji, off Kubwa Expressway in Abuja due to delay in their promotion and career progression.

The protesting teachers complained that they were being made to undergo unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles to delay their promotions even though they qualify for it.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Complete the 2024 promotion exercise now,” “Teachers are not pool staff,” and “Our services count, not empty chairs,” the protesters demanded the immediate conclusion of the 2024 promotion exercise.

The teachers also rejected the controversial “vacancy rule,” which they said has been used by civil service authorities to deny them promotion despite passing the required qualifying examinations.

According to the union leaders, hundreds of competent teachers have stagnated at the same grade levels because of delays in the promotion process, a move that, they added, had caused demoralization among teachers in public schools in the FCT.

The union is asking for the immediate release of all the outstanding promotion letters for the year 2024, financial implementation of the promotions, and payment of all outstanding entitlements.

The teachers promised to keep up with the protest and withdraw from their job duties until the FCT Administration and civil service authorities respond to their demands.