Teachers deserve better working conditions

At this year’s World Teachers’ Day (WTD), the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) called on the government to implement the special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools approved during the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. The NUT National Deputy President, Kizito Kalu, who spoke at the event, urged the government to pay teachers a living wage.

The theme for this year’s WTD, “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures,” is a clarion call on government to address the challenges of teachers and the teaching profession. This year’s commemoration marks the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.

This year’s WTD gave the government and other stakeholders the opportunity to reflect on the invaluable service teachers render in grooming the young ones and shaping their future. Unfortunately, the annual celebration has become a ritual of lofty tributes to teachers, while their daily reality remains one of neglect, poor remuneration and inadequate working conditions. The government should change its attitude to the welfare of Nigerian teachers and begin to pay them a living wage.

We urge the government to move beyond the speeches, colourful ceremonies and hollow promises that usually mark the event and commence to fulfill their promises to teachers. Nigeria must confront the hard truth: our teachers deserve far better than they are currently getting. A nation that neglects its teachers cannot build a viable education system that produces globally competitive graduates. Therefore, it is baffling that those entrusted with educating the nation’s children are among the least appreciated public servants.

Across the country, teachers struggle to survive on grossly inadequate salaries in the face of soaring inflation and increasing cost of living. In many states, teachers are still owed salary arrears, while promotions are delayed for years. Many work in overcrowded classrooms with insufficient teaching materials, dilapidated buildings and little opportunity for professional development. Such conditions drain morale and inevitably affect the quality of education delivered to millions of Nigerian children.

The renewed call for recruitment of more teachers and introduction of modern teaching aids, like AI tools should be given attention. The Federal Government must urgently implement the special salary scale approved for teachers several years ago. Successive administrations have made repeated promises regarding teachers’ welfare, but implementation has remained painfully slow. Investment in teachers must not be an empty annual slogan.

State governments must also fulfill their constitutional responsibility by paying teachers a genuine living wage. No teacher should live in poverty or struggle to meet basic family needs. Financial insecurity forces many competent teachers to seek alternative sources of income. This diminishes their commitment to teaching.

The international community has consistently stressed the importance of supporting teachers. UNESCO, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNICEF and Education International have repeatedly called on governments to provide stronger professional support, better working conditions and enhanced status for educators.

Nigeria should heed this advice. Improving teachers’ welfare goes beyond increasing salaries. It requires regular training and retraining, opportunities for career advancement. Teachers require timely promotions, adequate teaching facilities, modern instructional materials and safe learning environments.

Government must restore the dignity of the teaching profession. For too long, teaching has become a career of last resort for many young Nigerians. This unfortunate perception stems largely from poor remuneration and limited prospects for professional growth. The country must deliberately make teaching attractive once again by rewarding excellence, recognising outstanding performance and creating clear pathways for career progression. Bright young graduates should see teaching as a prestigious profession worthy of their talents rather than an option forced upon them by unemployment.

Teachers deserve respect both inside and outside the classroom. The increasing hostility toward teachers undermines effective teaching and learning. Society must recognise teachers as partners in raising responsible citizens and accord them the respect that such responsibility commands.

Countries that consistently rank among the world’s best educational systems invest heavily in their teachers because no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. Nigeria cannot expect excellent learning outcomes while treating teachers as an afterthought. Poor welfare leads to low morale, absenteeism, brain drain and declining educational standards.

Poor educational outcomes contribute to unemployment, poverty, insecurity and slow economic growth. Investment in teachers is an investment in national stability, productivity and development. Nigeria must improve teachers’ welfare. A lot depends on it. Governments must move beyond anniversary declarations and embrace concrete action. Teachers have waited long enough.

The implementation of the special salary scale should no longer be delayed. States should pay living wages promptly and honour promotion obligations. Better working conditions, improved infrastructure, modern teaching resources and continuous professional support should become standard features of Nigeria’s education system rather than distant aspirations.

Teachers have faithfully stood by Nigeria through the decades. It is time for the country to stand by its teachers. They deserve decent pay. They deserve respect and good working environments. Millions of Nigerian children deserve motivated educators who can give their very best.