Education

Unions push for better welfare, retirement package on World Teachers’ Day

Published

8 months ago

October 6, 2025

Teachers across Nigeria have renewed calls for improved welfare, better working conditions, and the full implementation of the 65-year retirement age policy as the nation joined the rest of the world to mark the 2025 World Teachers’ Day.

At various events held nationwide, teachers’ unions and education stakeholders decried the slow pace of policy implementation, poor remuneration, and inadequate teaching facilities, which they said continued to undermine the quality of education.

They urged federal and state governments to prioritise teachers’ welfare and ensure that promises made to the education sector are fulfilled.

World Teachers’ Day is celebrated worldwide on October 5 every year.

As Nigerian teachers marked the day on Sunday, data received from the National Union of Teachers revealed that 16 states of the federation were yet to implement the 65-year retirement age after it was signed into law.

The 65-year retirement age for teachers was signed into law by the late President Muhammadu Buhari on April 8, 2022, as part of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022.

Section 1 of the Act clearly states that “Teachers in Nigeria shall compulsorily retire on attainment of 65 years of age or 40 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.”

While the provision of Section 3 of the Act provides that the Public Service Rule or any legislation that requires a person to retire from the Public Service at 60 years of age or after 35 years of Service shall not apply to teachers in Nigeria.

Apart from increasing the retirement age and years of service, the bill also introduced bursary awards, special rural posting allowances, and other items that will encourage brilliant Nigerians to take up teaching.

However, the Ministry of Education said the new retirement age and years of service would not be automatic, as teachers would demonstrate fitness before benefiting from the scheme.

According to the data from the NUT, the affected states are Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, and Sokoto states.

Speaking at the celebration held at the union’s main conference hall, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin, the Kwara State NUT chairman, Comrade Yusuf Agboola, lamented that the government had not keyed into the 65-year retirement policy.

“The government has not keyed into the 65/40 years national harmonised retirement age for teachers, and rural allowances for those teaching in remote areas remain outstanding,” he said.

Agboola called on the government to address outstanding welfare issues affecting public school teachers in the state, adding that the future of education in the state would remain uncertain if teachers were not properly motivated and supported.

He, however, commended the government for the regular payment of salaries, the financial backing of the 2023 and 2024 promotions of TESCOM teachers, and the recruitment of over 3,000 teachers across basic and senior secondary schools.

Teachers in Oyo State, however, commended the government for prompt payment of their salaries, recruitment of new teachers, career progression of teachers, promotion of primary school teachers to salary grade level 16, and the appointment of a teacher as the Executive Chairperson of the Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission.

Speaking at this year’s celebration in Ibadan, the NUT Chairman, Comrade Raji Ismail, said Governor Seyi Makinde’s magnanimity culminated in the array of achievements recorded by his administration at NUT.

He applauded the evacuation of the six-year promotion waiting period for primary school teachers, and asked the government to look into “inadequate funding of education, infrastructural deficits, and the need for continuous capacity development of teachers.”

NUT demands investment

In a goodwill message read in states across the country, the NUT National President, Comrade Audu Amba, called on governments to adequately fund public education and invest in teachers.

“Without deliberate investment in teachers, the future of education is at risk.

“Governments must increase budgetary allocation to education and create a conducive learning atmosphere to ensure quality outcomes,” he said.

Amba lauded teachers nationwide, saying, “Comrades, I commend your courage, resilience, and patriotism in discharging your duties. Be assured that your success is our priority. We will continue to demand that teachers are accorded their rightful status and pride of place in society,” he added.

The Sokoto NUT chairman, Comrade Murtala Mohammed, commended teachers across the state for their resilience, dedication, and commitment to nurturing future leaders, despite challenges confronting the education sector.

Speaking in Sokoto on Sunday, Mohammed urged teachers to remain steadfast and united in their calling, stressing that cooperation and collective effort are key to achieving academic excellence in the state.

While acknowledging the support of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration, the NUT chairman lauded the recent implementation of teachers’ promotions and the significant increase in their minimum wage from N18,000 to N70,000.

He described the development as a morale booster for educators across the state.

Govs laud teachers

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, hailed teachers in the state for their dedication, resilience, and invaluable contributions to the development of the state and humanity at large.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Okpebholo described teachers as nation builders, mentors, and the architects of the country’s future.

He noted that their tireless efforts and commitment to moulding the next generation of leaders, innovators, and productive citizens were truly commendable.

He promised not only to implement policies that would improve their working conditions but also to enhance their capacity through continuous training and access to modern teaching tools.

He added, “To every teacher in our primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, your impact is immeasurable. The foundation you lay in the lives of our children is what determines the trajectory of our state. I urge you to remain steadfast and committed to upholding the high standards of your profession.”

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, hailed the invaluable contributions of teachers to nation-building and human capital development, describing the teaching profession as noble and the foundation of all other professions.

Represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, during the 2025 World Teachers Day Celebration at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Abiodun appreciated all the teachers in the state, adding that his administration was proud of the measurable contribution of those in the teaching profession to the collective progress of the state.

He promised to continue to support them with the tools, amenities, and conducive environment they needed to thrive as they double up on their efforts to secure the future of the children in the state.

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Radda, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to advancing education reform and improving teachers’ welfare in the state.

In a goodwill message to commemorate the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Mohammed, Radda described teachers as the cornerstone of educational development and nation-building, whose dedication and sacrifices continued to shape the future of Katsina State and Nigeria at large.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting collaborative teaching approaches through continuous professional development, modern infrastructure, digital learning tools, and platforms that encouraged peer learning and knowledge sharing among teachers and commended Katsina teachers for their resilience, professionalism, and dedication, particularly in navigating the challenges of modern education while maintaining high standards of excellence.

Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State saluted teachers for their invaluable contributions to national development, describing them as the cornerstone of a forward-looking education system.

In a goodwill message signed by Director General, Press Affairs, Ismaila Misilli, the governor said the celebration provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of shared purpose and innovation in transforming education for a better future.

He described teachers as not only transmitters of knowledge, but partners in shaping the minds, values, and aspirations of young people.

Yahaya reaffirmed that his administration had continued to invest in programmes, including capacity-building ones to enhance skills, improve school infrastructure, teacher recruitment to strengthen the workforce, and regular engagement with education stakeholders to ensure participatory decision-making.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, assured teachers in the state of his administration’s commitment to making their welfare and needs a top priority.

Oyebanji, in his address during the celebration in Ado Ekiti, assured that he would approve the upward review of allowance for science teachers in the week, consequent upon the review which had been carried out by the Head of Service.

Responding to the requests by the NUT chairman, Egbeyemi Adedeji, on outstanding leave bonuses and other sundry issues, the governor said, “2019 (leave bonus for secondary school teachers) was paid on Saturday, and you will start receiving the alert as from Monday.

“Let me be explicit on the issue of leave bonus. I am assuring you that we will try as much as possible to ensure that we pay all outstanding leave bonuses as soon as practicable.”

Speaking on the mandatory age for retirement, Oyebanji said, “This has been approved and recommended, but for able and willing teachers.

“So, at the mandatory age, your request has been approved for teachers who want to extend. If there is any teacher who wants to leave, you are free to leave.”

The governor splashed mouth-watering cash rewards on outstanding teachers under various categories in the public primary schools, public secondary schools, private primary schools, and private secondary schools.

Speaking on behalf of the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, said the government was already working to ensure teachers’ welfare was fully protected.

The commissioner, represented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Desk Officer at the ministry, Taye Odedeji, said the administration placed education and teachers’ welfare at the centre of its policies as it took steps in regular salary payments, recruitment of thousands of teachers, and promotions across the sector.

He assured the teachers that the government would not ignore their calls on allowances and retirement age.

“The government is studying the issues raised by NUT, including allowances and retirement age. I want to assure our teachers that these matters are not being ignored. Our goal is to build a motivated workforce that will deliver the quality education Kwara deserves,” he said.

The Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Nureni Adeniran, said that approval for 2023/2024 promotion letters had been received from the Civil Service Commission for primary school teachers.

He assured that soon, the promotion letters would be released to teachers, adding that the pending issue of inter-zonal transfer of 2005 teachers back to LGUBEs of their choice had also been approved by the governor.

Proprietors decry taxation

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Ogbomoso North Chapter, Oyo State, called on the government at all levels to address critical challenges facing private school owners and teachers across the country, especially in the areas of taxation, welfare, and access to financial support.

In a statement released by its Chairman, Wale Ojewumi, in Ibadan, the state capital, the association said teachers’ contributions to national development deserved greater recognition and support.

“We’re not competing with the public sector; rather, we are working hand-in-hand with it to ensure that quality education is available to all, especially in areas where public resources are stretched thin,” he said.

The chairman lamented that private school proprietors were burdened by what he described as an automatic 25 per cent annual increase in personal income tax, which he said negatively impacted their ability to reinvest in staff and infrastructure.

He, therefore, urged the government to review the policy and make it more reflective of the realities faced by school owners.

Don seeks improved welfare

A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Entrepreneurship Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Dr Vincent Paul, called on governments to work towards improving the working conditions of teachers.

In a press statement made available to journalists in the Keffi Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, Dr Paul said, despite the limited recognition and inadequate working conditions, particularly the lack of private office spaces for many teachers in primary and secondary schools, they had remained steadfast in their duties.

“As we commemorate this remarkable day, we salute teachers everywhere for their sacrifices, passion for nurturing minds, and unwavering commitment to building a brighter and more inclusive future,” he said.

The don paid a visit to his primary school teacher, now retired, Mrs Augustina Abraham, in the Keffi LGA of the state, where he commended her for the invaluable contributions she had made to his life and his learning journey.

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Education

Ondo sets up committee on safe school programme due to Insecurity

Published

19 minutes ago

June 17, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Ondo State Government has set up a steering committee for safe schools programme in the state.

This was said to be a part of the efforts to protect school children from kidnapping and other forms of criminalities in the state.

The Safe Schools Initiative is a Federal Government programme, designed to protect students, teachers, and educational infrastructure from violence, kidnappings, and others forms of attacks.

At the inauguration of the committee in Akure on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Igbekele Ajibefun, explained that the committee was specifically created to carry out critical responsibilities, provide strategic direction, and enhance coordination among stakeholders.

According to him, members of the steering committee include , representatives from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Amotekun Corps, religious and traditional leaders, and Parents-Teachers Association.

Charging the committee members, the commissioner who is the chairman of the committee said , “You are to support the implementation of the Safe Schools Programme and strengthen mechanisms to prevent security threats in the educational institutions of the state.”

As the chairman of the committee, Ajibefun emphasised that the success of the initiative largely rests on the active participation of all stakeholders.

Explaining that security is a shared responsibility requiring vigilance, preparedness, resilience and collective action, Ajibefun admonished the members to discharge their duties with diligence, commitment, integrity, and a strong sense of purpose.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry—who also serves as the secretary of the committee, Akindele Ige, stated that the establishment of the committee was s a direct response to the growing security threats targeting schools.

Ige noted that recent attacks have reinforced the need for deliberate, coordinated, and sustained efforts to protect students, educators, and school infrastructure across the state.

He affirmed that “No meaningful teaching can take place where there is fear, and no effective learning can occur where there is insecurity.”

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Education

Teacher’s detention sparks uproar among Lagos colleagues

Published

2 days ago

June 15, 2026

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Colleagues of a Lagos teacher, Peter Shodipe of Ijaiye Ojokoro Junior College, have appealed to authorities to thoroughly review the circumstances surrounding a drama presentation that allegedly triggered panic among students in the school.

Shodipe was arrested after a co-curricular programme organised by the National Value Education Department of the school caused confusion when some students mistook a drama presentation on banditry for a real-life attack.

The incident, which occurred during a Wednesday co-curricular activity, later drew the attention of the police after frightened students shouted that bandits had invaded the school.

Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday, sources within the school maintained that Shodipe was merely carrying out an approved educational assignment.

A teacher in the school, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the programme had been planned as part of activities marking National Awareness Day and was intended to educate students about insecurity, particularly banditry and kidnapping.

According to the source, the National Value Education Department, comprising teachers of Social Studies, Civic Education, Security Education and History, had agreed to organise a pep talk, quiz competition and drama presentation focusing on the causes, effects and prevention of insecurity.

Shodipe, who was assigned to coordinate the drama, reportedly selected students from JSS3 for the presentation and supervised rehearsals a day before the event.

The source said, “The drama was not a standalone activity. It was part of a broader educational programme. We prepared quiz questions, assigned teachers to different responsibilities and planned awareness talks.

“The drama was intended to help students understand the realities of insecurity and the importance of vigilance. It was never conceived as entertainment or content for social media.”

The source explained that preparations for the programme began within the school compound on the morning of the event.

The teacher specifically noted that the preparations were observed by officials of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps stationed at the school.

“Students changed into costumes near the school gate while officials of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps stationed at the school observed the preparations.

A staff member volunteered a bus to serve as a prop for the drama, and the vehicle remained on the school premises throughout the preparations.

“Some parents dropping off their children also saw students changing into costumes and understood that a drama presentation was about to take place,” the source added.

However, confusion reportedly erupted when the bus moved into position for the performance.

Some students who had not been briefed on the exercise allegedly began shouting, “Bandits! Bandits!” causing panic among other students and staff members.

The situation escalated as frightened students fled into neighbouring schools within the educational complex before some eventually ran onto nearby roads.

This also prompted concerned residents to alert security agencies.

Another teacher in the school, who also preferred not to be named due to the sensitive nature of the incident, said police officers later arrived and arrested Shodipe.

“When the officers arrived, they first went to the principal’s office. The principal later took them into the staffroom, where Mr Shodipe was identified.

“Education officials and school administrators subsequently made efforts to intervene, but by then the matter had already been escalated beyond the divisional level before the teacher was transferred to the state command headquarters,” the source said.

The detention of the teacher has generated concern among colleagues, particularly following comments made by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, who described the incident as content creation.

Speaking during a strategic meeting with police officers on Friday, the police commissioner said, “I can recall a teacher tried to create content around banditry and some other students who were not there got to know of this, and this caused a lot of pandemonium within the school.”

He further warned content creators against raising false alarms, stating that anyone found creating unnecessary content around sensitive security issues would face the law.

However, the colleagues strongly disputed that characterisation, insisting that describing the activity as content creation misrepresented the context in which it occurred.

The teacher further said, “We were surprised to hear it described that way because this was not a skit designed for social media and nobody was creating content.

“Mr Shodipe is a classroom teacher. He was assigned by the department to coordinate one aspect of an officially approved school programme, just as other teachers were assigned to handle the quiz and awareness sessions. Everything happened within the framework of teaching and learning.”

The source said the existence of departmental plans, rehearsals and other programme components demonstrated that the exercise was educational in nature.

“If this had been a personal project, people might understand the allegation. But this was a departmental activity involving multiple teachers and students. There were meetings, preparations and assigned responsibilities. The unfortunate panic that followed does not change the original purpose of the programme.

“The programme involved several teachers and formed part of activities approved by the department. What happened was an unintended consequence of a role-play exercise, not an attempt to create online content or spread a false alarm,” the source added.

The teacher acknowledged that communication gaps may have contributed to the misunderstanding but argued that any shortcomings should be treated as administrative issues rather than criminal conduct.

“We are not saying everything was perfect. Looking back, perhaps more people should have been informed because of the sensitive nature of the topic. But there is a difference between a mistake in planning and a criminal act. Nobody intended to cause panic, and nobody gained anything from what happened,” the source added.

The sources further appealed to the authorities to consider testimonies from parents, security personnel, students and staff members who witnessed the preparations before reaching any conclusions.

“What we are asking for is fairness. Let investigators speak with the teachers who planned the programme, the security personnel who witnessed the preparations and the parents who saw the students getting ready for the drama.

“We believe Mr Shodipe deserves a fair hearing and should not be punished for what appears to have been an unintended misunderstanding.”

It was gathered that efforts by Shodipe’s family to gain access to the detained teacher have so far been unsuccessful.

When contacted for a reaction, the Secretary of the National Union of Teachers in Lagos State, Gbenga Ayetobo, said the union had no information on the incident.

“No information for now, please,” he said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached for comment as calls and text messages sent to her phone number were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

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Education

OAU has fulfilled founding fathers’ vision, says TETFund boss

Published

2 weeks ago

June 5, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The executive secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, has said the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has lived to the ideals of its founding fathers, breeding experts in various fields of human endeavors.

Echono, while delivering a lecture to mark the 65th anniversary of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, also said investment in research and innovation systems will generate practical solutions suited to local realities.

The TETFUND boss, in the copy of the paper obtained in Osogbo on Friday, paid glowing tributes to the pioneer and successive Vice Chancellors of the university for sustaining the legacies of the university’s founding fathers.

“The Great Ife has remained a symbol of commitment and purposeful leadership. Expectedly, the university has lived to the ideals of its founding fathers as the breeding ground for erudite scholars, legal luminaries, successful businessmen, diplomats, accomplished technocrats and administrators, including its legion of Nigerian National Merit Award Winners, who are contributing to national development, and have continued to uphold the reputation of the university,” he said.

Speaking on the concept of research and innovation, Echono noted that research and innovation remain key drivers of national development, saying nations that have achieved sustained economic growth and technological advancement have done so through deliberate investment in knowledge generation, scientific inquiry, and practical innovation.

He added that in present day global economy, development does not depend on natural resources, but on the capacity to create, apply, and commercialize knowledge.

“Research and innovation remain key drivers of national development. Nations that have achieved sustained economic growth and technological advancement have done so through deliberate investment in knowledge generation, scientific inquiry, and practical innovation.

“In today’s global economy, development does not depend on natural resources but on the capacity to create, apply, and commercialize knowledge. Nigeria’s developmental challenges, though significant, also present opportunities for innovation-driven transformation.

“Addressing issues such as unemployment, insecurity, hunger, healthcare limitations, industrial underdevelopment, and technological dependence requires sustained investment in research and innovation systems that generate practical solutions suited to local realities,” Echono said.

Commending President Bola Tinubu for focusing on research and innovation that can provide solutions to challenges peculiar to the country and her people, Echono also stressed that building a fully functional and innovation-driven economy requires deliberate efforts to address issues of funding constraints, insufficient infrastructure, inadequate motivation, limited academia-industry collaboration, and challenges in commercialising research outputs.

He emphasised that the role of TETFund in enhancing the capacity of tertiary institutions in the country for research and development through its interventions activities has become increasingly strategic for strengthening Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem.

He further said that by supporting research funding, academic capacity development, innovation hubs, commercialisation initiatives, and entrepreneurship programmes, TETFund has been repositioning institutions in the country as active contributors to national development.

He declared that Nigeria’s “Sustainable development largely depends on how effective we are at leveraging knowledge, innovation, and technology to grow national economy, expand opportunities, create jobs and wealth, develop new products and services and improve the well-being of its people. This is essential for national growth, competitiveness, and long-term stability.”

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Simeon Bamire, said the institution has been recording steady growth since it’s establishment about 65 years ago and commanded the sacrifices and commitment of staff members and students towards sustaining legacies of excellence OAU is reputed for.

The PUNCH reports that Bamire announced plans to unveil the N10bn President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Centre of Excellence in Intercultural Dialogue and Youth Empowerment on June 8 as part of activities marking the institution’s 65th anniversary.

Bamire said the centre was designed to serve as a platform for research, dialogue, leadership development, innovation and youth empowerment.

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