NUT laments non-implementation of special salary scale for teachers

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed disappointment over the Federal Government's failure to implement the special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools, as approved during the late President Muhammadu Buhari's administration. Kizito Kalu, the NUT National Deputy President, made this statement during the 2026 World Teachers Day address in Abuja.

The theme for this year's World Teachers Day is “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing the status and shaping our futures.” Kalu emphasized that teachers need compensation that reflects the significance of their responsibilities and the current economic conditions in Nigeria. He recalled that the Federal Government approved the special salary scale and other welfare packages for teachers in 2022, but four years later, implementation has not begun.

The Kebbi NUT denounced a viral video alleging poor education funding as doctored, while Oyo states have declared Monday a work-free day for teachers. Kalu urged the government to initiate the new salary regime for teachers to improve their morale and enhance their dignity. He also pointed out that teachers cannot perform optimally in classrooms with overcrowding, lack of furniture, and insufficient instructional materials.

World Teachers Day was established on October 5, 1994, at the 44th session of the International Conference on Education in Geneva.