AN OPEN LETTER TO THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT FROM A TEACHER

Dear Honourable Minister,

I write to you today as a Teacher, a Unionist, and a Leader among FCT Teachers, to express our deep concern and disappointment over the recent promotion exercise. The results have left us feeling marginalised and neglected, despite being the backbone of the FCT civil service.

Out of 915 Deputy Directors who sat for the promotion examination, about 840 were Education Officers, forming about 92% of the total number of candidates. However, only 20 Education Officers were promoted, amounting to a mere 2.4% of the total number of Education Officers who sat for the examination. This is unfair, especially considering that 80% of these Teachers scored above 70%, exceeding the 60% benchmark set by your Administration.

The disparity is glaring, and it’s clear that Teachers are being unfairly treated. The claim that promotions are based on vacancies is not only demotivating, demoralising but also unjust. How can someone remain on the same level for 14 years, without any hope of advancement? I watched my senior colleagues in tears having passed an examination but was left unpromoted just because they were told, there are no vacancies. This is not only a question of welfare but also a matter of dignity.

We urge you to reconsider the promotion policy and make it based on merit rather than vacancies. Other states, such as Lagos, Delta, and Kaduna among others have shown that it’s possible to promote Teachers to the Directorate cadre based on their performances, without being limited by vacancies.

We request that you take immediate action to address this issue and ensure that Teachers in FCT are treated with the dignity and respect we deserve. Promotion to Level 17 should be a right, not a privilege. Teachers are comfortable teaching in our classrooms and earning as a Director than perpetually being a Deputy Director in an office.

While thanking you for the promotions so far, we hope that you will take our plea seriously and work towards creating a more just and equitable system for Teachers in FCT.

Sincerely,

Com. Ibukun Adekeye