Teachers deserve better

On Monday, October 5, 2026, World Teachers’ Day was observed, providing stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss teachers' working conditions and career prospects. The day, not a public holiday in Nigeria, commemorates the 60th anniversary of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, adopted on October 5, 1966. UNESCO proclaimed the day to stand with teachers, advance its status, and shape future generations.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, pledged the Nigerian government's commitment to increasing investment in teachers' welfare, training, and professional development. He emphasized the need for professional respect, career-long development opportunities, fair recognition, and good working conditions. Alausa highlighted how artificial intelligence, while enhancing knowledge access and instruction tailoring, cannot replace the essential judgement, encouragement, and human connection provided by skilled teachers.

Despite the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari laying a foundation for teacher investment, the 2026 WTD ceremony lacked inspiring strategies. The 2020 WTD celebration saw the Federal Government announce incentives such as extended years of service, increased retirement age, and special salary scales for teachers in various settings. However, most states have failed to implement these incentives, leaving teachers in poor welfare conditions.

The neglect of teachers' welfare is evident in the numerous teacher strikes across Nigeria, including in the FCT, where the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is in an indefinite strike over the "no vacancy for teachers" policy. This situation underlines the dire need for governments to prioritize teachers' welfare, ensuring timely payment of salaries and entitlements to avoid jeopardizing the future of the nation's education sector and, by extension, Nigeria as a whole.