Scores of teachers under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, staged a peaceful protest at the Open University in Dutse-Alhaji, Abuja, to express their dissatisfaction over the prolonged delay in their promotions and career progression.

The teachers said many qualified officers have remained on the same grade level for several years despite meeting all the requirements for promotion and successfully passing the necessary examinations.

According to the protesters, the continued delay has affected staff morale and reduced motivation among teachers working in public schools across the Federal Capital Territory.

During the demonstration, they carried placards with messages calling for the immediate completion of the 2024 promotion exercise, insisting that teachers should not be treated as pool staff and that their years of service should be properly recognised.

The union also criticised the use of the so-called 'vacancy rule,' which it said has been used by civil service authorities to deny deserving teachers career advancement even when they have fulfilled all the conditions for promotion.

The NUT FCT Wing is demanding the immediate release of all outstanding promotion letters for the 2024 exercise, full financial implementation of the promotions, and payment of every outstanding entitlement owed to affected teachers.Union leaders maintained that hundreds of teachers have been unfairly held back, creating frustration throughout the education sector.

They also warned that the protest and withdrawal of services would continue until the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the relevant civil service authorities address their demands and conclude the promotion process without further delay.