The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has called for the establishment of a special salary structure for teachers and the implementation of the 27.5 per cent salary enhancement approved by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

The union said the salary enhancement had either been suspended or remained unimplemented in several states of the federation.

The National President of ASUSS, Olusola Adigun, who read the union’s communiqué at the end of its first joint national celebration of World Teachers’ Day and third National Leadership Workshop in Abuja, also called for improved welfare and working conditions for teachers.

The two-day event, held on October 5 and 6, 2026, focused on challenges confronting the teaching profession, secondary education and the Nigerian education system.

The union said it was demanding policies capable of attracting and retaining the best brains in the teaching profession, as well as continuous professional development, retraining and capacity building for teachers.

ASUSS also called for the unconditional and uniform implementation of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, which was assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2023.

The union expressed concern over attempts to introduce additional conditions that could undermine the uniform application and intent of the legislation, urging relevant authorities to uphold the rule of law and implement the Act without arbitrary qualifications.

On school infrastructure, ASUSS expressed concern over the state of disrepair and inadequacy of facilities in many secondary schools across the country.

It demanded safe and adequate classrooms, functional laboratories, sufficient furniture for teachers and students, clean and reliable water supply and functional workshops for technical and vocational education.

The union said the provision of such facilities should extend beyond urban centres to rural and underserved communities.

ASUSS also demanded greater involvement of teachers and their representative organisations in the formulation and implementation of education policies and programmes, particularly those affecting the secondary school sub-sector.

It said teachers, because of their direct and continuous interaction with learners, were well positioned to identify the practical challenges and opportunities within the school system.

The union further called for respect for the right of secondary school teachers to belong to and be represented by their duly recognised professional union.

Among its other demands, ASUSS called for the establishment of a Special Schools Protection Squad, which it described as a new formation dedicated to schools.

It also urged states to domesticate the Senior Secondary School Education Commission as approved by the Federal Government.

The union said its demands were not privileges or favours to teachers but essential requirements for sustainable educational development and an effective education system.

ASUSS, however, urged teachers to match their demand for improved recognition and welfare with professionalism, discipline and ethical conduct.

It called on teachers to maintain high professional standards, avoid unethical practices, demonstrate commitment to duty, strengthen cooperation with school management and continue to serve as positive role models to learners and society.

The union urged the Federal and state governments and other stakeholders in the education sector to give urgent and positive consideration to its demands.

ASUSS said it remained committed to quality secondary education, the protection of teachers’ rights and welfare, and the restoration of dignity and professional recognition to teachers.