Teachers press for better pay and conditions on World Teachers Day

The Nigeria Union of Teachers called on federal and state governments to improve teachers’ pay, welfare, recruitment, working conditions and security at events marking World Teachers Day on October 5, as officials also cited hiring plans and other support measures in several states. At the national celebration in Abuja, NUT President Audu Titus Amba, represented by deputy Elder Kalu Kizito, said teachers needed better remuneration, professional development and greater participation in policymaking. The union also urged authorities to strengthen security for teachers and pupils and provide teachers with the resources and support needed to use digital tools and artificial intelligence responsibly. Amba said a special salary structure approved for teachers in 2022 had yet to take effect and called for a clear mechanism to implement it. The sources did not provide independent records establishing the structure’s status across states. The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools separately said a 27.5 per cent pay increase approved for teachers had not been implemented in some states. The union’s demands varied by state.