The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wing, has called for improved protection, welfare and equitable treatment for teachers across the country.
The union made the call as educators worldwide marked World Teachers’ Day, stressing that female teachers in the FCT were not subjected to systemic discrimination or marginalisation within the teaching profession.
Speaking on the sidelines of the commemoration in Abuja, the State Secretary of the NUT FCT Wing, Comrade Margaret Jethro, said women constituted a significant proportion of the teaching workforce and were fully represented in the union’s leadership and decision-making structures.
“Women teachers are not segregated; they are being carried along.
“In the Nigeria Union of Teachers, our constitution explicitly provides for women to be elected into executive positions or co-opted where necessary.
“Women are not being relegated at all in the teaching profession,” Jethro said.
On concerns about gender-based abuse and workplace discrimination, she said promotion and career advancement in the teaching profession were based on merit and applied equitably to both male and female teachers.
Jethro explained that most of the challenges confronting female teachers were not gender-specific but were part of broader systemic problems affecting teachers nationwide.
“Any issue being faced by women is being faced by all teachers in the federation.
“It is not a matter of gender. We all know about the issues regarding pay and how teachers are treated compared to workers in other sectors. It is a general problem,” she said.
The NUT official also highlighted the occupational risks faced by teachers, particularly harassment by parents over disciplinary measures taken against pupils.
She referred to the recent reported assault on a teacher in Kogi State, describing the incident as unacceptable and stressing the need for greater protection for educators.
“Teaching carries a lot of hazards. Part of our responsibility is to discipline the child, but when you do, some parents come to harass you.
“What happened in Kogi is tragic and could happen to a male or female teacher.
“We are deeply unhappy about it, as it should never happen in our profession. We demand justice for the victim,” she said.
Jethro called on relevant authorities and security agencies to strengthen measures to protect teachers in schools and address persistent concerns over remuneration and welfare.
She said improved working conditions and greater respect for teachers would contribute to a safer and more effective learning environment for Nigerian children.
