National president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Audu Titus Amba, has called on the federal and state governments to implement all the approved teacher welfare packages.
The union described them as essential to repositioning the education sector for quality learning outcomes.
Amba, who stated this in Abuja recently, urged government at all levels to create environments that promote teacher collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation.
He drew attention to Nigeria’s growing teacher shortage, citing a Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) report that indicates a deficit of over 190,000 teachers in public primary schools nationwide.
While commending the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) for its efforts, Amba appealed to the federal government to restore adequate funding to the council, stressing its central role in maintaining professionalism and standards in the teaching profession.
The NUT chief also called on the Edo State government to rescind its decision to hand over schools to missions, describing education as a fundamental right that the state must protect.
Amba lamented the non-implementation of the new minimum wage for teachers in several states, disclosing that while some have partially complied, others have yet to begin payment. He urged the defaulting states to prioritise the welfare of teachers, as their motivation directly affects educational outcomes.
“The well-being of teachers is crucial to attracting and retaining talents in the profession,” he said and called for the implementation of the incentives approved in 2020, including the special salary scale, harmonised retirement age, bursary awards, and housing schemes for teachers in rural areas.
Also, the NUT president called on the government to improve education financing and warned that underfunding remains one of the greatest impediments to achieving Nigeria’s educational goals.
