The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has called on President Bola Tinubu to activate the policy reforms of former President Muhammadu Buhari which provided incentives for Nigerian teachers in 2020.
National President of NUT, Comrade Audu Amba, made the call while delivering remarks at the 2023 World Teachers Day celebration in Abuja.
Amba noted that the union has observed with great concern that three years after the incentives were approved for teachers, government was yet to implement most of them.
Recall that Buhari had approved welfare packages for teachers, including payment of special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools, reintroduction of bursary award to education students in universities and colleges of education.
Other incentives approved by the former administration were free tuition and automatic admission for biological children of teachers, special Teachers Pension Scheme to enable the Teaching Profession retain its experienced talents as well as to extend teachers’ retirement age, among others.
The union also urged the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC, to issue a circular for wage increases to reflect in the pensions of retired teachers and other workers.
“We also call on State Governments, who have not implemented the Harmonized Retirement Age/Service years for Teachers to do so without further delay as this will engender greater service delivery and productivity in the education system.
“The NUT hereby requests the Federal Government of Nigeria to call on State and Local Governments to live up to their responsibilities and obligations in the payment of Pensions and Gratuities of retired teachers.
“It is regrettable that there are some retired teachers, whose monthly pension is lower than the National Minimum Wage. Therefore, we urge the Federal Government through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to issue a circular for wage increases to reflect in the pensions of retired teachers and other workers,” he said.
On his part, President Tinubu, who was represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima, pledged that under his watch, Nigerian teachers will get their due reward.
The president regretted the challenges confronting Nigerian teachers, including overcrowded classrooms, scarce resources and limited opportunities for professional development, which he said are the result of prolonged neglect of the noble profession.
“Our commitment to actualising our education reforms is to drive the emergence and sustenance of a system that recognises that education is the mother of new ideas and groundbreaking discoveries.
“With well-taught workforces, we are not only going to build a nation that thinks but one that lives in an interconnected world, a world where the exchange of knowledge and ideas knows no boundaries.
“Without motivated teachers, we can’t build a nation that fosters such international cooperation, builds bridges of understanding, and addresses global challenges such as climate change, poverty, and healthcare. So, education, to us, and I believe to you too, is not just a means to individual success; it is a path to global harmony and sustainable development.
“Of course, our dear teachers, we are not just going to focus solely on technological advancements. The human aspect of education is just as critical as the infrastructure. Our teachers deserve to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. It is my promise that we will work tirelessly to build a society where the teacher’s reward begins to manifest here on earth,” he said.
