The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on the Federal Government to implement a special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools, approved four years ago. NUT National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, made the call at the 2026 World Teachers' Day celebration in Abuja. The event also marked the 60th anniversary of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. Amba emphasized that the delay in implementation undermines teachers' welfare and morale.
The special salary scale was approved in 2022 by the Federal Government under former President Muhammadu Buhari, alongside other welfare packages. However, its implementation has yet to commence. Amba, represented by Deputy National President Comrade Kizito Kalu, expressed concern over the delay. He stated that a motivated teacher is an asset to national development and should receive remuneration reflecting the profession's importance and prevailing economic realities.
Amba also called for improved working conditions, recruitment and retention of qualified teachers, continuous professional development, and enhanced security for teachers and pupils. He highlighted that Nigeria faces an acute shortage of teachers, particularly in rural, underserved, and hard-to-reach communities, due to inadequate recruitment by some state governments. This shortage has resulted in a significant gap in the education sector.
The NUT president urged governments to recruit sufficient numbers of professionally qualified teachers and provide incentives to encourage them to remain in the profession. He emphasized the need for regular training and retraining to cope with the rapidly changing demands of the education sector. This would enable teachers to effectively integrate new technologies and methods into their practice.
Amba also stressed the importance of integrating artificial intelligence and digital technology into education. He noted that this integration must be done in a manner that strengthens, rather than diminishes, the role of teachers. To achieve this, appropriate devices, reliable internet connectivity, electricity, digital resources, and technical support must be provided to enable teachers to use emerging technologies effectively.
Furthermore, Amba demanded the involvement of teachers and their representative organizations in education policymaking. He argued that policies affecting classroom practice are more likely to succeed when teachers participate in their formulation. This would ensure that policies are practical, effective, and beneficial to the education sector.
The NUT's call for implementation of the special salary scale and other welfare packages is aimed at boosting teachers' morale and enhancing their dignity. The union hopes that the Federal Government will take concrete steps to address these issues, ultimately improving the quality of education in Nigeria. The 2026 World Teachers' Day celebration serves as a reminder of the importance of teachers and the need for their welfare to be prioritized.
Key points
- The Nigeria Union of Teachers demands implementation of a special salary scale approved four years ago.
- The delay in implementation undermines teachers' welfare and morale.
- The NUT also calls for improved working conditions, recruitment of qualified teachers, and integration of technology into education.
