The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has raised an alarm over a growing teacher shortage in the country’s public schools, with more than 194,876 positions vacant across primary and secondary education.
Speaking to The Guardian, NUT President Titus Amba called on federal and state governments to urgently implement previously approved salary enhancements and welfare packages to address the crisis. He said poor remuneration and challenging working conditions have diminished the appeal of teaching, warning that the shortage threatens Nigeria’s ability to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) by 2030.
“Some states have yet to implement the N70,000 minimum wage and other incentives approved in 2020,” Amba said, noting that only 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory have adopted the harmonised retirement age for teachers.
Amba also criticised the removal of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) from the federal budget and urged President Bola Tinubu to restore funding. He further warned against the increasing privatisation of schools, stressing that public investment is essential to ensure equitable access to quality education.
According to the Universal Basic Education Commission, the shortage is most acute in rural areas, highlighting an urgent need for policy action to stabilise Nigeria’s education system.
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