The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has urged both the Federal and State Governments to take decisive steps toward improving the welfare and working conditions of teachers across the country. The union made this call during the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration at Eagle Square, Abuja, emphasizing the urgent need for an enhanced salary structure, robust welfare packages, and solutions to the worsening shortage of teachers nationwide.
Speaking at the event, NUT National President, Comrade Titus Amba, described the situation as a “manpower crisis,” revealing that over 194,000 teaching positions remain vacant in Nigeria’s primary and secondary schools. He stressed that effective education delivery cannot be achieved without addressing this shortage and ensuring that qualified teachers are employed and adequately supported.
Amba, who spoke on this year’s theme, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” noted that teachers are the foundation of any education system. He lamented the poor conditions under which many teachers work, the low public regard for the profession, and the failure of some state governments to implement the ₦70,000 new minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
He called for the full implementation of welfare packages earlier approved by the previous administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, including:
- A special salary scale for basic and secondary school teachers,
- A harmonized retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service,
- Bursary awards for education students,
- Provision of low-cost housing and loan facilities, and
- Free tuition and automatic admission for the biological children of teachers.
According to Amba, only 22 states and the FCT have implemented the new retirement age, while other incentives remain pending. He urged the government to act swiftly, noting that “the wellbeing of teachers is crucial to attracting and retaining qualified educators and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on quality education.”
Citing a UNESCO report, he warned that if the issue of teacher shortage is not addressed, Nigeria’s efforts to meet the SDG 4 targets by 2030 could be derailed. The report highlighted a global shortage of 44 million primary and secondary school teachers, with Africa being among the most affected regions.
The NUT President also condemned the Federal Government’s decision to remove the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) from the annual budget, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reverse the move to ensure that the council receives adequate funding to strengthen teacher professionalism and quality assurance.
Amba further warned against the growing trend of privatization and commercialization of education, describing it as a threat to inclusive and equitable learning. He criticized state governments, such as Edo State, for handing over public schools to religious missions, saying such actions deepen inequality and undermine access to education for vulnerable groups, including girls, children with disabilities, and those in rural areas.
In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving teachers’ welfare and strengthening the education system under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He said rewarding teachers is an investment in quality education and national progress, noting that the Ministry has launched several initiatives to empower educators, including the National Teacher Policy.
During the celebration, President Tinubu presented cars and buses to the best teacher in Nigeria for 2025 and to outstanding schools recognized by the NUT.
The event, attended by contingents from all 36 states and the FCT, took on a carnival-like atmosphere, with supporters of award-winning governors particularly from Kogi and Katsina States chanting solidarity songs and celebrating their leaders’ contributions to basic education. Food vendors and souvenir sellers also thrived at the lively gathering.
