NUT Demands 2022 Salary Structure for Teachers

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on the Federal Government to implement the special salary structure approved for teachers in 2022, saying the delay has weakened teachers’ welfare and morale.

NUT National President, Audu Titus Amba, made the call on Monday during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day commemoration at Eagle Square, Abuja.

Amba said the salary structure, approved under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari alongside other welfare measures, had remained unimplemented four years after its approval. “We, therefore, insist that teachers enjoy the status commensurate with their role,” he said.

The union also called for improved working conditions, citing overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture, insufficient instructional materials and poor infrastructure in schools across the country.

Amba urged federal and state governments to recruit more qualified teachers, particularly for rural and underserved communities, while providing incentives to attract and retain teaching personnel. “Teachers cannot be expected to perform optimally in environments characterised by overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture, insufficient instructional materials, poor infrastructure and lack of access to other essential teaching resources,” he said.

The NUT president also called for continuous professional development to equip teachers with emerging digital skills, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence in education.

He, however, stressed that technology should complement rather than replace teachers. “Technology must serve as a tool to empower teachers, enhance their effectiveness and improve learning outcomes, not as a substitute for the human connection, professional judgement, empathy and mentorship that teachers bring to the classroom,” Amba said.

The union also expressed concern over the safety of teachers and learners amid security challenges affecting some parts of the country.

It called for stronger protection of schools and education personnel, urging governments to make school security a permanent component of education planning. “No teacher should have to work in fear,” Amba said, adding that teachers should have greater representation in policies affecting their profession.

The 2026 World Teachers’ Day theme, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, advancing its Status and Shaping our Future,” marks six decades of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.

The NUT said sustained investment in teachers’ welfare, professional development and working conditions remained essential to strengthening Nigeria’s education system and supporting national development. “A motivated teacher is an asset to national development,” Amba said.