No Alternative to Special Salary Structure for Nigerian Teachers -NUT President

The President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Audu Titus Amba, has called for the implementation of a special salary structure for Nigerian teachers, describing it as a necessary step towards improving education quality and restoring dignity to the teaching profession. Amba, who is also the Deputy Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Vice President of Education International, African Region, said teachers in Nigeria remain poorly paid despite their crucial role in building the nation’s human capital. Speaking on teachers’ welfare, he revealed that several welfare packages were approved by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, including a special salary structure for basic and secondary school teachers, rural teacher allowances, housing support, peculiar allowances for science teachers, and other incentives. However, he noted that most of the approved welfare packages have not been implemented, with only the extension of teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years and service years from 35 to 40 years fully achieved. According to him, improving teachers’ welfare is essential because well-compensated teachers can better plan for retirement, provide quality education for their children, access healthcare and maintain decent living conditions. ## Teachers Need Better Pay and Welfare Amba said the NUT has continued to engage the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders over the need to review teachers’ salaries and implement approved incentives. He stressed that there is no alternative to a special salary structure for teachers, adding that many teachers currently struggle because their salaries are insufficient to meet basic needs. “We do not want to embark on nationwide industrial action because the people who will suffer most are the children of poor Nigerians who depend on public primary and secondary schools,” he said. However, he warned that continued neglect of teachers’ welfare could eventually leave the union with limited options. ## Insecurity Threatens Nigeria’s Education System The NUT President also spoke about the recent abduction of teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, explaining that the union initially declared an indefinite strike to pressure authorities to secure the release of the victims. He said the decision was difficult because parents and affected families were experiencing emotional distress, but the union later suspended the action after receiving assurances from government and security agencies. Amba commended the Federal Government, Oyo State Government, security agencies and community leaders for the eventual rescue of the abducted teachers and students after 56 days in captivity. However, he expressed sadness over the deaths of two teachers during the incident, describing the attack as another painful reminder of the dangers facing education workers across Nigeria. He cited previous attacks on schools, including the Chibok and Dapchi abductions, as examples of the insecurity challenges affecting the education sector. According to him, protecting schools, teachers and learners must remain a priority if Nigeria hopes to achieve quality education. ## Lessons Nigeria Can Learn From Finland Amba said Nigeria can improve its education system by adopting lessons from countries such as Finland, where teachers are highly respected, well-trained and properly rewarded. He explained that teachers serve as the foundation of the education system because they shape children during their earliest learning years. The NUT President appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise basic education by focusing on teachers’ welfare, training and infrastructure development. He stated that no country can develop beyond the quality of its education system. ## Curriculum Reform Requires Teacher Involvement Speaking on concerns about outdated curriculum and poor graduate quality, Amba said curriculum reform alone cannot solve Nigeria’s education challenges without proper implementation. He noted that the NUT participated in recent curriculum reviews, which introduced more practical and skills-based learning approaches. However, he stressed that teachers must be involved in education policy decisions because they are responsible for implementing those policies in classrooms. According to him, quality education cannot be achieved when teachers are poorly paid, unmotivated and excluded from decision-making processes. ## Federal Government Should Set Minimum Teacher Standards Amba argued that although education is on the concurrent legislative list, the Federal Government still has a major role to play in setting standards for teacher salaries and incentives across the country. He said the government should establish a minimum salary benchmark for teachers, similar to the way the national minimum wage provides a standard for workers. He added that states and private institutions should not pay below the minimum standard established for teachers. ## Call for Stronger School Security The NUT President urged government, security agencies, parents, teachers and communities to work together to improve school safety. He explained that many attacks on schools are intelligence-driven and require collaboration between communities and security agencies to prevent them. Amba praised efforts such as the Safe School Initiative in Oyo State and called for stronger protection measures nationwide. He concluded that improving teachers’ welfare, securing schools and investing in education are necessary steps towards building a stronger future for Nigeria.