Despite a new law approving a ₦70,000 minimum wage for teachers, some Nigerian states are still shockingly paying as little as ₦18,000, a wage set over a decade ago. For many teachers across the country — especially those in primary schools and local government service — this is more than unfair. It is heartbreaking.
According to recent data from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), nine states have failed to start paying the new wage, months after it was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. As if that was not bad enough, in at least twelve states in the country, teachers are still being paid the outdated ₦18,000 minimum wage. They have not even received the previous ₦30,000 minimum wage, let alone the new one.. This troubling situation shows how poorly Nigerian teachers, especially at the grassroots level, are treated
It is one of the biggest reasons why many are leaving the profession. “How can someone survive or stay committed to teaching when they are earning less than a cleaner in a private home?” a teacher in one affected state asked. Across the world, countries such as Finland, Canada, and Singapore pay their teachers well, particularly those who teach young children. They understand that good education begins with motivated teachers. However, in Nigeria, until states start to take teacher welfare seriously, more classrooms will continue to lose their best teachers, and the children will ultimately pay the price.
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