As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Teachers’ Day 2025, teachers’ unions have renewed calls for improved welfare, better working conditions, and the full implementation of the 65-year retirement age policy.
Peak Newspaper Nigeria reports that the National Union of Teachers (NUT) revealed that 16 states have yet to implement the retirement age law signed by late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022.
At events held nationwide, education stakeholders lamented poor remuneration, inadequate facilities, and slow policy implementation, urging federal and state governments to prioritise teachers’ welfare and fund public education.
NUT National President, Comrade Audu Amba, called for increased budgetary allocation to education, stressing that “without deliberate investment in teachers, the future of education is at risk.”
Across states, governors commended teachers for their resilience and promised improved welfare:
Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo) was praised for prompt salary payments, promotions, and recruitment.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto) raised teachers’ minimum wage from ₦18,000 to ₦70,000.
Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Muhammadu Yahaya (Gombe), and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) reaffirmed commitments to training, infrastructure, and better working conditions.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools appealed to government to ease tax burdens on private schools, warning that rising taxes hinder their ability to improve staff welfare and infrastructure.
Education experts also urged government to address long-standing challenges and invest in teachers’ capacity development to strengthen Nigeria’s education system.
