The National President of the union, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, made the call on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration held at Eagle Square.
Amba, who was represented by the Deputy National President of the NUT, Comrade Kizito Kalu, said the special salary structure for teachers in basic and secondary schools was approved in 2022 by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari alongside other welfare packages.
He, however, expressed concern that implementation of the salary regime had yet to commence four years after its approval.
‘We therefore renew our call on government to set machinery in motion for actualisation of the new salary regime for teachers in order to boost their morale and enhance their dignity. A motivated teacher is an asset to national development,’ he said.
The NUT president also raised concerns over poor working conditions in schools, citing overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture, insufficient instructional materials and dilapidated infrastructure.
He called for increased investment in school infrastructure and the provision of safe and conducive environments for teaching and learning.
Amba further expressed concern over the shortage of teachers in schools across the country, attributing the situation partly to the failure of some state governments to recruit teachers for several years.
He urged governments to recruit adequate numbers of professionally qualified teachers, particularly for rural and underserved communities, while providing incentives to retain them in the profession.
On professional development, the NUT president called for regular training and retraining to equip teachers with skills required to respond to changes in curriculum, technology and societal expectations.
He also urged the government to ensure that the increasing use of digital technology and artificial intelligence in education supports rather than displaces teachers.
According to him, teachers need access to appropriate devices, reliable internet connectivity, electricity, digital resources and technical support, alongside training in digital pedagogy and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
Amba also called for greater participation of teachers and their representative organisations in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of education policies.
He said policies affecting teachers and classroom practice would have better prospects when teachers were involved in their development and implementation.
The union also called for stronger security measures to protect teachers and pupils, stressing that safety should form a permanent part of education planning.
Amba said the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers offered an opportunity for Nigeria to reassess the extent to which its principles had been incorporated into the country’s education policies.
He described teachers as critical agents of social and economic transformation and urged stakeholders to move beyond annual celebrations by translating commitments to teachers into concrete action.
‘Teachers are not mere implements of education policies, but critical agents of social and economic transformation; they are not only purveyors of knowledge and values but nation builders that should be accorded their rightful status and pride of place in society,’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, assured teachers that the Federal Government recognised their central role in transforming the education sector.
Alausa said the administration of President Bola Tinubu had placed education at the centre of its development agenda, with reforms focused on improving learning environments, strengthening institutions, enhancing teacher welfare and promoting continuous professional development.
He said teachers deserved professional respect, opportunities for career advancement and appropriate resources and working conditions.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, said the government was working towards a more coherent national system for teacher development in basic education.
She said the Accelerated Teacher Professionalisation Pathway was providing serving teachers without the required professional qualifications an opportunity to obtain certification while remaining in service.
Ahmad said teacher welfare and retention remained important components of the government’s reform agenda, adding that teachers needed adequate tools, professional development opportunities, safety and respect.
She also said teachers in remote communities should have equal access to professional learning and development opportunities.
At the event, the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards were presented to outstanding teachers, school administrators and schools.
Dr Adebayo Mary Oluwaseun of Nawair-Ud-Deen Grammar School (Senior), Abeokuta, Ogun State, emerged as the overall best teacher in Nigeria and received a new car.
A total of four cars and one bus, among other prizes, were presented to winners in various categories.
The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was also honoured for his contribution to education development.
Receiving the award, Aiyedatiwa, a former teacher, said the recognition was a tribute to teachers in Ondo State and Nigeria rather than a personal achievement.
He said his classroom experience had influenced his administration’s approach to education.
The governor disclosed that Ondo State recruited more than 2,100 teachers into its primary and secondary schools in 2025 and invested in professional development, digital and pedagogical training, and quality assurance.
He also said the state constructed 43 classroom blocks at a cost of about N3.1 billion in 2025, while 75 schools underwent complete renovation.
Aiyedatiwa added that the state provided furniture, sports equipment, textbooks and other learning materials, while the 2026 budget made provision for additional construction and rehabilitation of basic schools.
He said his administration had also approved the establishment of a college of nursing and a college of education to expand opportunities for professional and teacher education.
In related news, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Federal Capital Territory chapter, called for a dedicated housing scheme for teachers in the territory.
The FCT Chairman of ASUSS, Julius Ogundiran, made the call at the joint national celebration of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day in Abuja.
Ogundiran acknowledged the prompt payment of salaries by the FCT administration but said high housing costs had forced some teachers to commute long distances from neighbouring areas.
He urged the FCT administration to construct dedicated housing estates or allocate subsidised land to teachers across the six area councils.
‘If they can provide housing estates for teachers, we will be more motivated and well-equipped to perform our duties,’ he said.
A teacher at Junior Secondary School, Tungan Maje, Mrs Grace Philip, also called for greater attention to the concerns of teachers, citing delays in the FCT promotion structure.
In his remarks, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to teacher welfare, professional training and education funding.
Bagudu, who was represented by an official of the ministry, Mrs Kikelomo Ogundele, described investment in teachers as an indispensable investment in Nigeria’s future.
He said no reform in the education sector could succeed without well-trained, motivated and adequately supported teachers.
The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Oluwaseun Falaye, Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, also called on leaders in educational institutions and workplaces to promote ethical conduct, transparency and accountability.
Falaye, who was represented by the Executive Director, Administration, Mr Samaila Abdul, said teachers played a pivotal role in shaping future generations.
He said effective leadership required integrity, accountability, fairness, discipline, responsibility and commitment to service.