Wike approves fresh promotion exams for 5,990 FCT education officers

Commission assures officers of merit-based assessment

The Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh, confirmed that approximately 5,990 education officers were participating in the examination.

He praised the candidates for their turnout and orderly conduct since the exercise began on October 5, adding that the examination covered officers seeking promotion across Grade Levels 13 to 17.

Ezeh cautioned candidates against allowing political interests or external influences to interfere with their professional advancement.

He also reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring that promotion decisions were made through a transparent process based on merit.

Meanwhile, the President of the Joint Unions Action Congress for the FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority, Rifkatu Iortyer, said the exercise had progressed without major disruption.

She explained that administrative officers, accountants and other cadres had completed their examinations before the current phase involving education officers.

Iortyer welcomed the decision to allow teachers who missed the August 2025 examination another opportunity to participate, describing the turnout as evidence of their determination to advance their careers despite the ongoing labour dispute involving the NUT and the Nigeria Labour Congress in the FCT.

Union leader calls for dialogue to end labour dispute

While welcoming the rescheduled examination, Iortyer expressed concern about the wider consequences of the industrial disagreement for teaching and learning across the territory.

She appealed to the unions and FCTA management to return to negotiations to prevent the dispute from further affecting pupils and students.

According to the statement, the JUAC president disclosed that union leaders were pursuing informal mediation efforts aimed at resolving the disagreement. She expressed hope that continued dialogue would lead to an outcome acceptable to both parties.

Iortyer also urged union members to remain calm, maintaining that sustained engagement between labour representatives and the administration could help prevent further escalation.

The rescheduled promotion examination comes amid tensions over teachers’ career progression and other labour-related concerns in the FCT, with efforts to resolve the dispute expected to remain important to the smooth running of schools and other public services in the territory.