World Teachers Day: Tinubu assures of improved working conditions

President Bola Tinubu has reassured Nigerian teachers of the commitment to repositioning the teaching profession and improving in working conditions of teachers in the country.

This is even as the National President of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Titus Amba, has called on the Federal Government to ensure immediate implementation of the new Salary Scale for teachers alongside other incentives approved for teachers in primary and secondary schools about four years ago.

Tinubu who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume and the NUT President spoke on Saturday in Abuja on the occasion of the 2024 World Teachers’ Day commemoration with the theme: Valuing Teachers Voices: Towards a new Social Contract for Education”.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of car gifts by the Federal Government in different categories to the best teachers, administrators and schools under the Presidential awards.

Also, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris who happened to be the immediate past National President of NUT and Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf were among six Governors who were given awards by NUT in recognition of their immense contributions to the development of education and welfare of teachers in their states.

October 5 is celebrated every year as World Teachers’ Day, since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, 1994 set the day aside to recognise and appreciate the important role teachers play in the transformation of humanity and society.

President Tinubu while acknowledging the challenges being faced by teachers in carrying out their duties, reassured them that his administration would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that teachers’ welfare in particular and quality education that is a key to women’s empowerment, prevention of diseases, reduction of poverty and promoting peace, unity and prosperity is achieved in Nigeria.

National President of NUT, Comrade Titus Amba, however, lamented the failure of the Federal Government to implement the approval, about four years ago, for payment of the special salary scale for teachers in Basic and Secondary Schools.

He recalled that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari used the 2020 World Teachers’ Day to acknowledge the low status of teachers and announce the approval of some welfare packages for teachers to revitalize and reposition the education sector for greater service delivery in the country.

“These incentives include Payment of Special Salary Scale for teachers in Basic and Secondary Schools;

“Reintroduction of Bursary Award to Education students in Universities and Colleges of Education;

“Special Teachers Pension Scheme to enable the Teaching Profession to retain its experienced talents as well as to extend teachers’ retirement age;

“Development of a Career Path Policy for Teaching Profession in Nigeria and building of low-cost houses for teachers in rural areas;

“Provision of loan facilities for agriculture, housing, cars, motorcycles, and others to support teachers’ earnings and free tuition and automatic admission for biological children of teachers; among others.

“It is worrisome, however, to observe that four years after, most of the approvals have remained unimplemented. We hereby call on both Federal and State governments to ensure full implementation of the approved incentives in order to boost the morale of teachers in the discharge of their professional duties,” he said.

NUT President also lamented the challenge of acute shortage of teachers in the school system, saying reports from the field have revealed an alarming man- power crisis where some primary schools in the country are barely manned by one or two teachers, leaving the pupils to suffer learning poverty with a bleak future ahead.

He noted that United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics had in 2023 stated that 44 million additional teachers are needed worldwide to meet Universal Primary and Secondary Education in 2030, out of which 15 million are needed in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to him, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in a survey in 2024 indicated that there is a shortage of 194,876 teachers in public primary schools across the country.

He added the situation is worst in Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, especially in rural communities.

On security and safety challenges in schools, NUT President said the school system in Nigeria has over the years suffered severe setbacks due to security and safety, noting that teachers, learners and other education support workers have been victims of attacks by terrorists, kidnappings by bandits, school-related gender-based violence, as well as natural disasters such as pandemics and floods.

“These security challenges have negatively affected teaching and learning in our school system. We are concerned in particular about the recent floods that ravaged some States in the North, such as Borno, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, among others.”

He called on both Federal and State governments to put in place adequate measures to ensure safety and protection of lives and properties in our schools and school communities, saying this was key in ensuring free and unhindered access to education as a fundamental right of all children and the youth in our nation.

Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman whose address was read by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Sununu Yusuf, said the Federal Ministry of Education is fully committed to ensuring that teachers are empowered and equipped for the task ahead.

“We are working diligently to improve teacher training, professional development, and working conditions across the country. In addition, we are expanding access to new technologies and resources to ensure that Nigerian teachers can deliver world-class education, even in the most remote areas,” he said.

While calling for support of all stakeholders, the Minister urged state governments, private sector partners, civil society, and international development partners to join hands with government in this mission.