NUT Demands Implementation Of Special Salary Scale As FG Pledges Reforms

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on the Federal Government to implement the special salary scale approved for teachers in basic and secondary schools four years ago, saying the delay is undermining teachers’ welfare and morale.

The National President of the NUT, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, made the call on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration held at Eagle Square.

The 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration also marked the 60th anniversary of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, adopted in Paris, France, on 5 October 1966.

Amba, who was represented by the NUT Deputy National President, Comrade Kizito Kalu, said the Federal Government, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, approved a special salary scale for teachers in 2022, alongside other welfare packages, but expressed concern that implementation had yet to commence.

“We wish to recall that the Federal Government under former President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for the implementation of a special salary scale for teachers in Basic and Secondary Schools in 2022, alongside other welfare packages.

“Unfortunately, four years after the approvals, implementation has not commenced. We therefore renew our call on the government to set machinery in motion for the actualisation of the new salary regime for teachers in order to boost their morale and enhance their dignity,” he said.

According to him, a motivated teacher is an asset to national development and should receive remuneration that reflects the profession’s importance and prevailing economic realities.

The NUT president also called for improved working conditions, the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers, continuous professional development, greater access to digital technology and artificial intelligence, and enhanced security for teachers and pupils.

He said Nigeria was facing an acute shortage of teachers, particularly in rural, underserved and hard-to-reach communities, as a result of years of inadequate recruitment by some state governments.

“There is an acute shortage of teachers in our schools across states of the federation, occasioned by non-recruitment of teachers by some state governments for many years,” Amba said.

He urged governments to recruit sufficient numbers of professionally qualified teachers and to provide incentives that encourage them to remain in the profession.

Regarding professional development, Amba said teachers needed regular training and retraining to cope with the rapidly changing demands of the education sector.

He also urged the government to integrate artificial intelligence and digital technology into education in a manner that would strengthen, rather than diminish, the role of teachers.

According to him, appropriate devices, reliable internet connectivity, electricity, digital resources, and technical support must be provided to enable teachers to use emerging technologies effectively.

Amba further demanded the involvement of teachers and their representative organisations in education policymaking, arguing that policies affecting classroom practice were more likely to succeed when teachers participated in their formulation, implementation and evaluation.

He also called for stronger security measures in schools, saying, “No teacher should have to work in fear.”

The NUT president said the increasing security challenges confronting schools in parts of the country constituted a serious threat to education and urged governments at all levels to make school safety a permanent component of education planning.

He also raised concerns over the alleged stagnation of Education Officers at the directorate cadre for between 13 and 15 years, non-payment of various arrears, promotions and DTA, as well as what he described as the denial of teachers’ right to unionise by the Ministries of Defence, Police Affairs and the Department of State Services.

The union also opposed the Federal Government’s reported concession of King’s College, Lagos, to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.

Amba said the NUT recognised the contributions of old students and other stakeholders to educational development, but rejected the transfer of the school’s management and operational responsibilities to a private association.

“The Union considers this decision a dangerous departure from the principle of public education, and a serious threat to the employment security, professional autonomy and workplace rights of teachers,” he said.

He called for the reversal of the concession and meaningful consultation with stakeholders, including teachers and parents.

The global theme for this year’s celebration is “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping our Future.”

According to Amba, the theme was particularly relevant given the rapid transformation of education through technology and artificial intelligence.

Responding to the concerns raised by teachers, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the Federal Government remained committed to protecting and advancing the status of the teaching profession.

Alausa, who spoke at the World Teachers’ Day commemoration and President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards ceremony, said teachers were central to the government’s education reforms.

He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had made education a central part of its Renewed Hope Agenda, with reforms focused on improving learning environments, strengthening institutions, providing skills for a changing economy, improving data for decision-making and enhancing teacher welfare and professional development.

“Teachers deserve professional respect, opportunities to develop throughout their careers, appropriate resources, fair recognition and good working conditions that enable them to teach well,” the minister said.

According to him, technology and artificial intelligence were changing how knowledge was accessed and used, but the judgment, encouragement and human connection provided by skilled teachers remained indispensable.

“We must equip teachers to use new tools responsibly and confidently while safeguarding the standards and values of their profession,” he said.

Alausa said the Federal Government would continue to work with state governments, school leaders, professional bodies, organised labour, development partners, communities and parents to strengthen teacher preparation, development and recognition.

He added that the government was committed to ensuring that teachers, whether serving in urban centres or remote communities, had the tools and support required to help learners succeed.

He urged teachers to embrace professional development and the responsible use of emerging technologies while assuring them that their contributions remained vital to Nigeria’s development.

The minister said the government’s responsibility went beyond celebrating teachers on one day each year, stressing the need for sustained support and investment.

“My dear teachers, today belongs to you. Your service calls for more than words of thanks on one day each year. It calls for sustained respect, investment and partnership through each day of the year,” he said.

LEADERSHIP reported that the government also recognised outstanding teachers and schools with major prizes, including cars, buses and laptops, during the celebration.