The Nigerian Government has pledged to sustain and increase investment in teachers’ welfare, training and professional development, saying recognition of their contribution must translate into lasting support.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa stated this at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day commemoration and the President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards (PTSEA) ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria.
He said the theme, “Protecting and Advancing the Status of the Teaching Profession in a Rapidly Changing World,” challenges the nation to turn goodwill into action.
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Dr Alausa said teachers deserve professional respect, career-long development opportunities, adequate resources, fair recognition and good working conditions.
He stressed that their service “calls for more than words of thanks on one day each year.”
AI And Teachers
Addressing the impact of technology, the Minister noted that artificial intelligence is changing how knowledge is accessed and used, stressing that while such tools can help teachers reach learners and tailor instruction, “the judgement, encouragement and human connection of a skilled teacher remain indispensable.”
He said that teachers must be equipped to use new tools responsibly and confidently, while the standards and values of the profession are safeguarded.
The Minister credited President Bola Tinubu with giving education a central place in his Renewed Hope Agenda, and said the progress being recorded was made possible by the President’s investment in the Nigerian child.
According to him, “the administration’s education renewal efforts are focused on better learning environments, stronger institutions, skills for a changing economy, reliable data for decision-making, and improved teacher welfare and continuous professional development.”
Dr Alausa said a child’s opportunities must not be limited by geography, family income or circumstance, stating that “teachers in urban schools and remote communities alike should have the tools and backing to help every learner progress.”
Turning to the awards, he said the PTSEA recognises outstanding teachers, school administrators and schools for professionalism, innovation and leadership.
He congratulated the recipients and urged them to keep upholding integrity and excellence and to inspire others. He also assured teachers who did not receive awards that their work is seen and valued.
The Minister acknowledged that the Nigerian Government cannot achieve these goals alone, promising that it would continue to work with State Governments, school leaders, professional bodies, organised labour, development partners, communities and parents to strengthen teacher preparation, development and recognition.
“Every school day, millions of Nigerian children enter classrooms carrying hopes, abilities, questions and dreams,” he said, noting that teachers carry the responsibility of helping these children turn potential into possibility.
Dr Alausa concluded by thanking teachers across the federation for their service, perseverance, professionalism and patriotism, and by renewing the government’s resolve to protect the dignity of teaching and equip teachers for a rapidly changing world.”
Special Salary Scale
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) at the event renewed its call for the implementation of the special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools, approved under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
National Deputy President of NUT, Kizito Kalu, said the approved salary regime had yet to be implemented, four years after the approval.
“Teachers must receive remuneration that reflects the importance of their responsibilities and the prevailing economic realities in the country.
“We, therefore, renew our call on the government to set machinery in motion for actualisation of the new salary regime for teachers in order to boost their morale and enhance their dignity,” he said.
The NUT official also called for improved working conditions for teachers, saying they could not be expected to perform optimally in environments characterised by “overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture, insufficient instructional materials.”
He said Nigeria was facing an acute shortage of teachers, particularly in rural, underserved, and hard-to-reach communities, as a result of years of inadequate recruitment by some state governments.
He urged governments “to recruit sufficient numbers of professionally qualified teachers and provide incentives capable of encouraging them to remain in the profession.”
The World Teachers Day was recommended to the United Nations by the International Labour Organisation and UNESCO in 1966.
The recommendations include teacher training, welfare, responsibilities, and rights, among others. However, the global celebration started in 1994.
