As teachers on Thursday marked the World Teachers Day (WTD) across the country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared the determination of his administration to ensure teachers get their due reward.
The president addressed the gathering of teachers across the country to celebrate the World Teachers’ Day, with the theme; “The Teachers we need for the Education we want: The global imperative to reverse teacher shortage”.
Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said Nigeria’s future can only be safeguarded by investing in education, empowering the teachers and providing every child with the tools to reach their dream destination.
He, therefore, directed the Ministers of Education to collaborate with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to comprehensively revise existing guidelines “to ensure that anyone seeking to benefit from this Act must be fully prepared to return to the classroom, equipped with the latest teaching techniques and skills, especially in the realm of information technology.
“I am pleased to share with you a significant policy initiative, the Harmonised Retirement Age of Teachers in Nigeria Act 2022, which allows our dedicated teachers to continue their invaluable service for up to forty years or until reaching the age of sixty-five, whichever comes first. This measure is designed to retain the wealth of experience within our educational system and bolster the number of educators in our schools.
“I encourage each of you to consider taking advantage of this policy, but please bear in mind that eligibility is not automatic. To benefit from this Act, you must possess contemporary teaching skills, including proficiency in information technology, as we strive to equip our students for both the challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow,” he said.
LEADERSHIP reports that the 2023 edition of World Teachers’ Day, which was inaugurated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on October 5, 1994 is to recognise and honour teachers for their invaluable roles in the development of humanity and society.
Speaking further, the president restated his administration’s commitment to actualising education reforms to drive the emergence and sustenance of a system that recognises that education is the mother of new ideas and groundbreaking discoveries.
“With well-taught workforces, we are not only going to build a nation that thinks but one that lives in an interconnected world, a world where the exchange of knowledge and ideas knows no boundaries.
“Without motivated teachers, we can’t build a nation that fosters such international cooperation, builds bridges of understanding, and addresses global challenges such as climate change, poverty, and healthcare. So, education, to us, and I believe to you too, is not just a means to individual success; it is a path to global harmony and sustainable development.
“Of course, our dear teachers, we are not just going to focus solely on technological advancements. The human aspect of education is just as critical as the infrastructure. Our teachers deserve to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. It is my promise that we will work tirelessly to build a society where the teacher’s reward begins to manifest here on earth,” the President said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government used the occasion to give out different prizes to teachers, school administrators and schools at the basic and secondary levels, who excelled in their respective fields.
However, against the backdrop of the President’s promise to reward teachers, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on governments at all levels to ensure recruitment of adequate professionally qualified teachers to address the acute shortage of teachers in schools.
NUT national president, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, in his address, also called on President Tinubu to activate the Teacher Policy Reforms of the Buhari administration by ensuring the full implementation of the Teacher Incentives approved in 2020.
It will be recalled that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, on the occasion of the 2020 World Teachers’ Day announced the approval of some welfare packages for teachers, which 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.
Others were free tuition and automatic admission for biological children of teachers, special Teachers Pension Scheme to enable the Teaching Profession retain its experienced talents as well as to extend teachers’ retirement age, development of a Career Path Policy for Teaching Profession in Nigeria, building of low-cost houses for teachers in rural areas and provision of loan facilities for Agriculture, Housing, Cars, Motorcycles, and others to support teachers earnings, among others.
The Union, therefore, observed with great concern that three years after, the approved incentives for teachers were largely unaddressed. They, therefore, called on Tinubu to activate the Teacher Policy Reforms of the past administration by ensuring the full implementation of the Teacher Incentives approved in 2020.
Amba also urged the Federal Government through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to issue a circular for wage increases to reflect in the pensions of retired teachers and other workers.
On the issue of insecurity, he condemned the spate of insecurity afflicting the nation’s schools, calling on the Federal and State Governments to provide adequate security in schools and school communities, to encourage free and unhindered access to education as an inalienable right of our children and youths.
He said, “The challenge of attracting and retaining young dedicated persons in the teaching profession will remain unabated, if the living and working conditions of teachers are not given due attention and addressed in the interest of teacher effectiveness and greater service delivery.
“We also call on State Governments, who have not implemented the Harmonized Retirement Age/Service years for Teachers to do so without further delay as this will engender greater service delivery and productivity in the education system.
“Public Recognition and Regard for Teachers It is a truism that the work place and societal experiences of teachers in Nigeria cannot be said to be satisfactory. Teachers do not only work under deplorable conditions, but often suffer public distain, disregard and denied their due status and rightful place in the society.
“This ugly situation negatively affects the needed attraction and retention of new professionals in the teaching service. It is imperative therefore, that government takes appropriate steps to develop policies and adopt measures that would accord teachers their due regard and respect. Essentially, it should be recognized that the proper status of teachers and due public regard for the profession of teaching are of major importance for the full realization of educational aims and objectives (ILO/UNESCO 2008).
“Payment of Teachers Gratuities and Pensions The NUT hereby request the Federal Government of Nigeria to call on State and Local Governments to live up to their responsibilities and obligations in the payment of Pensions and Gratuities of retired teachers.
“It is regrettable that there are some retired teachers, whose monthly pension is lower than the National Minimum Wage. Therefore, we urge the Federal Government through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to issue a circular for wage increases to reflect in the pensions of retired teachers and other workers.”
Speaking further on the issue of insecurity in the nation’s Schools, Amba said, “The entire teachers of Nigeria are using this forum to openly condemn the spate of insecurity afflicting the nation’s schools. We decry a situation where students and teachers no longer feel safe to undertake their call to learning and teaching pursuits.
“It is on record that beyond the abduction of over 200 female students of Chibok Secondary School in Borno State in 2014 there have been several other attacks on schools, which has reduced the schools to a soft target for bandits and terrorists to operate and hit at will.
“We therefore, call on the Federal and State Governments to provide adequate security in our schools and school communities, to encourage free and unhindered access to education as an inalienable right of our children and youths.”
Earlier, Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said the WTD offers opportunity for society to celebrate its true heroes, describing teachers as the champions of Nigeria’s transformation.
He said celebrating and rewarding excellence in the teaching profession was government’s way of encouraging and attracting qualified persons to the sector.
