The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT has expressed disappointment at the failure of the Federal Government to fulfil the promises it made to teachers three years ago.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, had during the 2020 World Teachers Day, announced the approval of the reintroduction of bursary award to education students in Universities and Colleges of Education with the assurance of automatic employment upon graduation; as well as payment of stipends to students studying education as well as granting them automatic employment after graduation.
He also asked for a special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools, including provisions for rural posting allowance, science teachers allowance, and peculiar allowance; as well as a special pension scheme to enable the teaching profession to retain its experienced talents as well as to extend teachers’ retirement age to 65 years and teaching service years to 40.
The ex-President also approved low-cost housing for teachers in rural areas; sponsorship to, at least, one refresher training per annum to benchmark best practices for improved teaching and learning; expansion of the annual presidential teachers and schools awards to cover more categories and for the outstanding winners to be considered for National Awards and National Productivity Order of Merit Awards.
According to Buhari, these among other incentives were meant to motivate and restore the lost glory of teachers in Nigeria.
NUT President, Titus Amba, during a press conference in Abuja, at the 2023 World Teachers Day event, said many of the promises have not been fulfilled except the service year elongation which is only applied at the federal level.
Amba said; “Some states have commenced actions on years of service aspect of the incentives Aside that, none other incentive has been fulfilled. But we believe that the new Minister will work on the incentives because he’s committed to the cause of teachers’ welfare.”
