No fewer than 5,990 education officers in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) are taking part in the 2026 promotion examinations following an intervention by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, which gave staff who missed the previous exercise another opportunity.
The examination, which commenced on October 5, entered its sixth day on Monday, with officers seeking promotion from Grade Level 13 to 14 and up to Grade Level 17 participating in the exercise.
The affected officers had missed the August 2025 promotion examination following a disruption that prevented them from completing the exercise.
Speaking 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.
Nathan said Wike approved the participation of the affected officers, giving them another opportunity to pursue career advancement in the public service.
“I am so happy that they came out in this number for their examination. The last time, some of them were swept into the protest and could not write.
“But the Honourable Minister, in the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda, renewed their hope by approving that they should come and write the exams,” she said.
She urged the candidates to maintain discipline and take the examination seriously, stressing that promotion remained an important aspect of career progression.
On concerns over the availability of promotion slots, Nathan explained that vacancies naturally reduced at higher levels of the civil service because of its hierarchical structure.
She also attributed the limited openings in some cadres to the harmonised retirement age for teachers, which extended their service by five years and meant that no retirements had occurred in the affected category over the preceding four years.
The Head of Service, however, said there were still opportunities at lower levels, urging candidates to perform well, while noting that promotion would depend on merit and available vacancies.
She added that the education officers would return to their respective schools after completing the examinations.
The Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh, confirmed that approximately 5,990 education officers were participating in the exercise.
Ezeh, who commended the candidates for their turnout and orderly conduct, said the ongoing phase covered officers seeking advancement across Grade Levels 13 to 17.
He cautioned the candidates against allowing themselves to be influenced by external interests or political considerations capable of undermining their professional advancement.
The commission, he said, remained committed to ensuring that the promotion exercise was transparent and merit-based.
Meanwhile, the President of the Joint Unions Action Congress (JUAC) for the FCTA and FCDA, Rifkatu Iortyer, said the exercise had proceeded smoothly since it began the previous week.
She explained that administrative officers, accountants and other cadres had completed their examinations before the commencement of the phase dedicated to education officers.
Iortyer welcomed the inclusion of teachers who were unable to participate in the August 2025 exercise, describing their return to the examination venue as an opportunity to advance their careers.
She said the large turnout, despite the ongoing industrial action involving the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), FCT chapter, demonstrated the candidates’ commitment to their professional development.
The JUAC president, however, expressed concern about the impact of the labour dispute on teaching and learning, urging the unions and FCTA management to resolve their differences through dialogue.
She disclosed that union leaders were engaging in informal mediation to bring the parties back to the negotiating table, expressing optimism that the discussions would produce an acceptable resolution.
Iortyer also appealed for calm among union members, saying sustained engagement remained necessary to prevent further escalation and ensure the resumption of normal academic activities in FCT schools.
On security arrangements, the Director of the FCTA Security Services Department, Adamu Gwary, said the examination had remained peaceful despite the large number of candidates.
He explained that security personnel had established accreditation checkpoints from the entrance gates to the examination halls to ensure proper screening and orderly movement.
Gwary attributed the smooth conduct of the exercise to adequate planning and the cooperation of the candidates, assuring them that security measures would remain in place until the examinations were concluded.
