NUT Accuses FG Of Refusal To Provide Incentives After 3 Yrs

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed disappointment with the inability of the Federal Government to fulfill the promises it made to basic education teachers three years since the pronouncement was made by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recall that former President Buhari in his address at the 2020 World Teachers Day, in Abuja, announced some mouth-watering incentives for the teachers in his desire to attract the best brains in the profession and also retain the existing ones.

The President approved 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.

The President directed the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFund) to take up the funding of teaching practice in Universities and Colleges of Education, and advocated enhanced entry point for teachers in the civil service by restricting entry into the teaching profession to highly gifted, academically outstanding students/scholars with the right attitudinal and emotional disposition.

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He 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 special pension scheme to enable the teaching profession retain its experienced talents as well as to extend teachers’ retirement age to 65 years and teaching service years to 40.

He directed that a career path policy for teaching profession in Nigeria be designed; as well as teachers conversion programme and ICT training to mitigate the dearth of qualified teachers in the school system.

In addition to that, the 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 (NPOM) Awards.

These, he said, was to motivate and restore the lost glory of teachers in Nigeria, hence he directed the then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to ensure an accelerated implementation of the policies and measures in collaboration with States/Local Governments and other relevant government offices to enthrone a culture of competence, discipline, dedication, increased learning outcomes and better service delivery in the education sector in Nigeria.

NUT President, Titus Amba, confirmed to journalists at a press conference in Abuja, to herald the 2023 World Teachers Day, that many the promises/incentives have not been fulfilled except the service year enlongation which is only application at 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.”

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejoh, in his remarks, explained that actions are being taken on six out of the eleven items contained in the revitalization policy for teachers and teaching profession in Nigeria.

He said: “Education is in the concurrent list hence the input of the states government are required at all times for successful implementation of any policy or project in the education sector.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, in his remarks, appreciated the contributions of teachers to nation building, promising that he will continue to push for any course that will guarantee better welfare and working conditions for them.

He reminded them that the World Teachers Day was designed to highlight crucial issues affecting the teaching profession, adding that this year’s theme, “The Teacher We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortage,” was designed to draw attention to the strategic role teachers play in achieving quality education for all, and the dire need to rejuvenate the profession for sustainability.

• Yusuf Oketola