Experts Link 194,876 Teachers' Shortfall to Poor Welfare

Nigeria's Education Sector Faces Critical Challenges

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 2025 World Teachers' Day, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and education experts voiced deep concerns about the deteriorating state of the country’s education sector. Key issues include an acute shortage of qualified teachers, poor welfare conditions, and inadequate funding.

Speaking at the event held at Eagle Square, Abuja, the NUT National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, highlighted alarming statistics from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). According to these figures, public primary schools across Nigeria face a shortfall of 194,876 teachers. This situation is compounded by similar challenges in secondary schools, which further threaten the quality of education and learning outcomes.

Amba emphasized that this manpower crisis jeopardizes Nigeria’s efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which focuses on inclusive and equitable quality education. He urged all levels of government to take decisive action to address the issue and make teaching more attractive to younger generations.

Unfulfilled Promises and Welfare Concerns

Amba also expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises regarding teacher welfare, despite commitments made since 2020. During the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, several incentives were approved, including a special salary scale, harmonized retirement age, and low-cost housing for rural teachers. However, many of these remain unimplemented.

“It is worrisome that apart from the new retirement age of 65 years, which has been implemented by 22 states and the FCT, most of the approved incentives have not been fulfilled,” Amba said. He called on both federal and state governments to fully implement these welfare packages to restore dignity and pride to the teaching profession.

The union also raised concerns about the implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage. Ten states had not fully implemented the new wage, while four were yet to begin. Additionally, the NUT pointed out that Nigeria continues to fall below international standards for education funding, which recommend allocating 4-6% of GDP or 15-20% of total public expenditure to education.

The Impact of Poor Funding and Policy Decisions

Amba disclosed that as of March 2024, about N54 billion in matching grants from the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme remained unaccessed by some states and the FCT due to failure to meet counterpart funding requirements. “The inability of states to draw down these funds has further crippled efforts to strengthen the basic education sub-sector and improve teaching conditions,” he said.

The NUT also condemned the recent move by the Edo State Government to hand over some public schools to private institutions and voluntary agencies. The union described this as a step that undermines the principles of free and universal education, particularly threatening accessibility and equity for vulnerable groups such as girls, children with disabilities, and those in rural areas.

Teacher Shortage: A Multifaceted Issue

Mr. Bobby Winful of Federal Government Boys College, Abuja, attributed the shortage of teachers to several factors, including poor welfare packages and a declining number of certified teachers entering the profession. “We are having this shortage because the welfare package is not encouraging. The salaries are not forthcoming. Just imagine teachers going to work for three years without salaries,” he said.

Dr. Mary Chinwuba, Director of Chalcedony Group of Schools, blamed the worsening shortage on burnout and poor working conditions. She called for urgent measures to improve teachers’ welfare, including increased salaries, better working conditions, and adequate support.

Mrs. Adadazu Nengi, Director of Tekash Group of Schools, Abuja, pointed to the influx of unqualified and disinterested individuals into the teaching profession. “The teaching profession has this shortage because people are not interested in the job. Even those in it are there because of a lack of jobs. Most are not qualified to teach,” she said.

Ms. Adaora Nwafor of Funtaj International School observed that the teaching profession has lost its prestige, as many people feel reluctant to identify as teachers due to low pay and poor perception of the job. “Teachers are faced with poor numeration as they go home with peanuts. To bridge this gap, teachers should have health insurance scheme, housing allowance and other incentives,” she said.

Government Initiatives and Recognition

In his keynote address, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, reaffirmed the government’s recognition of teachers as the foundation of national progress. “Teachers remain the bedrock of human capital development and the cornerstone of national progress. Rewarding teachers is not just an act of recognition—it is an investment in quality education, student achievement, and the future of our nation,” he said.

Dr. Alausa outlined several reforms aimed at revitalizing the profession, including the National Teacher Policy, TRCN’s regulatory oversight, NTI’s continuous professional development, and UBEC’s capacity-building initiatives. He also emphasized the use of ICT to connect teachers across states and provide access to global best practices.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, highlighted ongoing government efforts to enhance the teaching profession through digital literacy initiatives and professional learning communities. “The realities of modern education demand that teachers work together—sharing expertise, supporting one another, and learning collectively,” she said.

Governors Recognized for Teacher Welfare Improvements

Meanwhile, four governors were honored for their exceptional contributions to improving teacher welfare and education delivery in their respective states. The award ceremony, held at Eagle Square, Abuja, recognized the Governors of Katsina, Adamawa, Kogi, and Delta States for implementing teacher-friendly policies, expanding access to education, and enhancing the teaching and learning environment.

Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda was celebrated for recruiting 7,325 teachers, approving and implementing a N70,000 minimum wage, and constructing over 3,000 classrooms and staff quarters in hard-to-reach areas.

Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri was recognized for employing 5,000 teachers, constructing model schools across all 21 local government areas, and renovating an additional 6,000 classrooms.

Kogi State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo received accolades for acceding to teachers’ long-standing demand for 100% salary payment and promptly implementing a N72,500 minimum wage since October 2024. His administration appointed classroom teachers as education secretaries and permanent secretaries and rehabilitated over 4,000 classrooms across the 21 LGAs.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was honored for his administration’s remarkable progress under the M.O.R.E. Agenda, including the full implementation of the national minimum wage, unconditional approval of teachers’ retirement age extension, and recruitment of 5,000 teachers between 2022 and 2023.