The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced a promotion examination for 5,990 education officers, following an intervention by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The examination, which started on October 5, 2026, is being conducted for officers from Grade Levels 13 to 17. This development comes after the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT wing, had disrupted the 2025 promotion exercise, preventing some education officers from participating.
The 2025 promotion examination was conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission in July 2025 for staff across all cadres. However, the NUT officials had mobilized and chased education officers out of the examination hall on the two days allotted to the education cadre. Following appeals from the affected officers and various unions, Wike approved the rescheduling of the examination for the education officers, enabling them to take the test.
During an inspection of the examination venue, the Head of the FCTA Civil Service, Nancy Sabanti Nathan, expressed satisfaction with the turnout and orderly conduct of the candidates. She attributed Wike's approval to the administration's commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda. Nathan urged the candidates to be orderly and take the examination seriously, noting that promotion remains an important pathway to career advancement in the public service.
Nathan explained that the availability of promotion slots at higher grade levels is limited by the structure of the civil service, which provides fewer positions as officers rise. She cited the implementation of the harmonized retirement age for teachers, which extended their service by five years and reduced vacancies from retirement in the last four years. However, she noted that opportunities remain available at lower cadres and that promotions would be based on merit and available vacancies.
The Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh, confirmed that about 5,990 education officers are participating in the exercise. Ezeh commended the candidates for their turnout and orderly conduct since October 5, adding that the assessment covers officers seeking promotion from Grade Level 13 to 14 and up to Grade Level 17. He warned candidates against allowing themselves to be influenced by external interests or political considerations that could jeopardize their professional advancement.
The President of the Joint Unions Action Congress (JUAC) for the FCTA and FCDA, Rifkatu Iortyer, said the exercise had proceeded smoothly, with administrative officers, accountants, and other cadres completing theirs before the current phase for education officers. Iortyer expressed satisfaction that teachers who missed the August 2025 examination had been given another opportunity. She, however, expressed concern about the impact of the ongoing industrial action by the NUT and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), FCT chapter, on academic activities.
The Director of the FCTA Security Services Department, Adamu Gwary, said adequate arrangements had been made to ensure the peaceful conduct of the examinations. He explained that security personnel mounted accreditation checkpoints from the entrance gates to the examination halls to manage the large number of candidates. Gwary attributed the orderly conduct to security planning and the cooperation of the candidates, assuring that measures would remain in place until the exercise ends.
Key points
- The FCTA has conducted a promotion examination for 5,990 education officers following an intervention by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
- The examination was initially disrupted by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT wing, in 2025.
- The promotion exercise is based on merit and available vacancies, with opportunities available at lower cadres.
