By Ben Adoga, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the promotion of 3,592 workers in the FCT Civil Service under the 2025 promotion exercise and directed the immediate commencement of the 2026 promotion process, even as he expressed confidence that between eight and 10 major road projects would be completed and ready for inauguration by January.
The twin announcements underscore the FCT Administration’s efforts to simultaneously improve workers’ welfare and accelerate infrastructure development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh, announced the promotion on Monday, describing it as another milestone in the administration’s commitment to rewarding diligence, enhancing productivity and ensuring timely career progression for deserving civil servants.
According to him, the 2025 promotion exercise followed a transparent and merit-based process, with promotion examinations conducted from July 1 to 3 for senior officers and on July 10 for junior staff.
Ezeh disclosed that 3,592 officers were successfully promoted after meeting the stipulated requirements, adding that the minister had already directed the commission to commence preparations for the 2026 promotion exercise without delay.
He said the directive was aimed at ensuring that qualified officers are promoted as and when due, in line with public service regulations and the administration’s resolve to improve staff morale.
“The minister has directed us to immediately commence the 2026 promotion exercise so that eligible officers will not experience unnecessary delays in their career progression,” he said.
Ezeh commended Wike for consistently supporting the commission in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities, noting that the minister’s intervention had strengthened workers’ confidence in the fairness of the promotion system.
He also praised members of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) for their cooperation throughout the exercise, saying the industrial harmony enjoyed by the administration contributed significantly to the successful conduct of the examinations.
The commission chairman further applauded civil servants for their orderly conduct during the promotion exercise and urged officers preparing for next year’s examinations to begin early preparations.
He reminded prospective candidates that promotion in the FCT Civil Service remains competitive and is based on merit, performance and the availability of vacancies.
Meanwhile, Wike on Monday resumed inspection of ongoing road projects across the Federal Capital Territory, declaring that the administration was on course to deliver between eight and 10 strategic road projects by January.
The minister inspected the Apo-Karshi and Bwari-Kubwa road corridors, where he expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work while reiterating the administration’s commitment to completing projects on schedule.
Speaking with journalists after the inspection, Wike dismissed suggestions that the pace of project execution could slow as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
He insisted that governance would remain the administration’s priority until the expiration of President Tinubu’s constitutional tenure.
“Has the tenure of Mr President ended? Certainly not. His first tenure will end precisely on May 29, 2027. If that is the case, then the work has also not ended,” he said.
The minister described the near completion of the Apo-Karshi road as one of the administration’s major achievements, recalling that the project, originally awarded in 2010, had remained largely dormant for years before construction gained momentum under the current administration.
“My happiness today is that the Apo-Karshi road, which has been a major concern, is almost ready. They are already putting up the streetlights. That is very commendable,” he said.
He commended the contractor handling the project for maintaining a steady pace of work and thanked residents and host communities for supporting the execution of the project.
At the Bwari-Kubwa road project, Wike acknowledged the engineering challenges posed by the terrain but maintained that such difficulties should not become excuses for missing completion deadlines.
He assured contractors that funding would continue to be released promptly to enable them to maximise the remaining dry-weather construction period and deliver projects as scheduled.
The minister stressed that the FCT Administration had provided all necessary support to contractors and therefore expected them to reciprocate with timely delivery and quality workmanship.
“One thing you must always know is that when the people have confidence in you, don’t allow that confidence to erode. They have seen it as a promise made and a promise fulfilled, and we will continue not to let them down,” Wike said.
He disclosed that inspection tours would continue across the six Area Councils and satellite towns in the coming weeks as part of efforts to closely monitor project implementation and ensure contractors comply with agreed timelines.
The minister reiterated that the administration remained focused on transforming the nation’s capital through sustained investment in critical infrastructure while simultaneously improving the welfare and motivation of the workforce responsible for delivering public services.
