World Teachers’ Day: NLC Urges Government to Raise Teachers’ Pay and Boost Education Budget

Nigeria’s future is seriously threatened by the continued disregard for the teaching profession, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which has urged the Federal Government to greatly boost education spending and enhance the welfare of educators nationwide.

NLC President Joe Ajaero made the plea at the World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja, calling teachers the “queens of all professions” who, in spite of their crucial role in the development of the country, nonetheless endure low pay, unfavorable working conditions, and a lack of respect.

“Despite society’s admiration for teachers, they continue to be the most underappreciated and undernourished profession,” Ajaero stated.

In heaven, teachers are revered, while on earth, they are hungry.

The UNESCO standard, which advises nations to devote at least 6% of their GDP and 20% of public spending to education, should be met, Ajaero urged the Federal Government.

He pointed out that Nigeria now invests significantly less than this level, which results in a teacher shortage, packed classrooms, and deteriorating educational standards.

“The lack of teaching aids, the poor working conditions for teachers, and the deteriorating morale among educators are all consequences of our underfunded educational system,” he stated.

The NLC President reportedly emphasized that increasing education spending involves developing human capital, which starts with highly qualified and driven instructors, rather than just facilities.

Additionally, Ajaero denounced the mistreatment of educators in private schools, claiming that many of them are underpaid, overworked, and denied basic labor rights including social protection, pensions, and union representation.

He urged the Minister of Education and the Minister of Labor and Employment to implement legislation that, in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and Conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labour Organization (ILO), guarantees private school teachers the ability to organize and join unions.

“Private school teachers are among the most underpaid employees in this nation,” Ajaero stated.

“The laws that safeguard all other Nigerian workers must also apply to them.”

A significant exodus of teachers is being fueled by inadequate compensation and professional support, the labor leader warned, as many depart the field in search of higher-paying positions overseas or in other sectors.

“What you lack, you cannot give. One cannot expect teachers to provide high-quality instruction if they are not sufficiently supported, encouraged, and trained, according to Ajaero.

“The future of our children and the nation as a whole is at risk if we keep going in this direction.”

He demanded a national framework to retrain underqualified educators, encourage ongoing professional growth, and lower the nation’s high student-teacher ratio, which he claimed is significantly higher than international norms in many public schools.

The global topic for this year’s World Teachers’ Day was “The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse Teacher Shortages.”

The topic is especially pertinent to Nigeria, according to Ajaero, where there is a severe teacher shortage in many schools, particularly in neglected and rural areas.

He called on all tiers of government to show political will by giving teachers’ well-being, frequent training, and salary payments a priority as part of larger reforms to bring Nigeria’s educational system back to life.

By funding educators, we are investing in the future. He came to the conclusion that no nation could surpass the caliber of its educators.