Nigeria: Teachers Demand Action On Pay, Jobs, Security

What the report says

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) used Nigeria’s 2026 World Teachers’ Day observance to press governments at federal and state levels to improve pay, recruitment, working conditions, professional development and security for teachers. The union said education cannot improve unless teachers are better supported and treated as key public servants, not just policy implementers. The event in Abuja also marked the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO recommendation on teachers’ status.

According to Daily Trust, NUT leaders and allied unions highlighted several unresolved issues, including delays in a special salary structure approved in 2022, uneven implementation of allowances, shortages of teachers in rural areas and complaints about weak protection for staff and pupils. The union also urged stronger safeguards around the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms, arguing that digital tools should supplement, not replace, teachers. Federal education officials said the government remains committed to better welfare and a more coherent system for teacher development and certification.

The report also noted mixed responses from state governments. Governors in places including Gombe, Akwa Ibom and Ekiti announced recruitment plans, allowances or rewards, while union leaders in some states said outstanding benefits still need to be paid. In Cross River, teachers and parent groups pointed to poor infrastructure and staffing gaps. The broader issue matters because teacher morale, retention and training are closely tied to learning outcomes and the quality of public education.