World Teachers’ Day: Implement Teachers’ Salary Scale Approved Four Years Ago, NUT Urges Tinubu

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

Four years after former President Muhammadu Buhari approved a special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has decried the continued delay in its implementation.

PerSecondNews correspondent reports that the National President of NUT, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration at Eagle Square, Abuja, on Monday, called for the actualisation of the approved salary regime.

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

The union also drew attention to the staffing situation in schools, particularly the difficulty of maintaining adequate numbers of professionally qualified teachers across the country.

“There is 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.”

“This challenge of teacher shortage remains a serious concern that should be urgently addressed,” he stated.

The NUT further raised concerns over career progression and the accumulation of outstanding entitlements affecting teachers in the education system.

“Stagnation of teachers (Education Officers) at the directorate cadre without promotions for 13 to 15 years. Non-payment of backlog of various arrears, promotions, DTA, and others remain among the issues requiring urgent attention.”

The union also called for sustained investment in schools, pointing to the facilities and resources required to support teachers and learners in the classroom.

“Teachers cannot be expected to perform optimally in environments characterized by overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture, insufficient instructional materials, poor infrastructure and lack of access to other essential teaching resources.”

The NUT also called for regular training and retraining of teachers to enable them adapt to changing classroom demands and evolving expectations within the education system.

“The teacher of today operates in an environment radically different from that of previous generations. Therefore, they should be given regular opportunities for training and retraining for professional development,” it emphasized.

The union also placed the safety of teachers and learners among the issues requiring sustained attention, against the backdrop of security challenges affecting schools in parts of the country.

“No teacher should have to work in fear. The increasing security challenges confronting schools in some parts of Nigeria constitute a serious threat to education. We call on government at all levels to strengthen the security of schools,” the union added.

They urged the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the outstanding salary approval, improve teachers’ welfare and working conditions, recruit more qualified teachers and strengthen professional development across the sector.

It also called for urgent action to clear outstanding promotions and arrears, improve school infrastructure and teaching resources, and strengthen the safety of teachers and learners as part of efforts to advance the teaching profession.

PerSecondNews correspondent reports that the NUT made the demands as Nigeria marked the 60th anniversary of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, under the theme: Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping our Future.”