Oyo Private Schools Face Teacher Shortage Due to Minimum Wage Policy

Private primary and secondary schools in Oyo State, located in South-West Nigeria, are experiencing a shortage of teachers.

According to a source, this issue is particularly noticeable in major cities and towns such as Ogbomoso, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin, Eruwa, and others across the state.

Investigations revealed that this situation became apparent at the start of the second term for the 2024/2025 academic session on Monday, 6th January 2025.

It was observed that hundreds of teachers from both private primary and secondary schools throughout the state failed to report to work when the new term began.

This is believed to be a result of some teachers being hired by the Oyo State government, alongside the introduction of the new minimum wage.

It should be recalled that the state government, under the leadership of Engineer Seyi Makinde, recently recruited at least 5,600 teachers to fill vacant positions in public schools across the state.

Reports indicate that on Monday, 6th January 2025, the state government began distributing appointment letters to the newly hired basic school teachers.

This distribution took place at the Local Government Universal Basic Education Authorities (LGUBEAs) located in all local government areas within the state.

Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, commented on the development, encouraging the new teachers to be innovative and embrace modern methods of teaching.

Adeniran, who reiterated the Board’s strict stance on preventing examination malpractices, stated that the new teachers’ appointments would take effect from January 1st, 2025.

However, he also mentioned that while about 12 local governments are overstaffed with teachers, others are understaffed, and a redistribution would be implemented to ensure fairness.

Adeniran further urged the newly hired teachers to demonstrate patriotism, integrity, and professionalism in their duties.

He added, “As young teachers, you are expected to be creative, adaptive, talented, and progressive. We urge you to be innovative, I therefore urge you to be the teacher for this age and the game-changing teacher for the future.”

“You will be expected to be part of our dream to revolutionalize the basic education sub-sector,” he concluded.

Our reporter learned that many of the teachers employed by the state government were originally working in private primary and secondary schools in the state.

Additionally, it was revealed that in November, the state government approved N80,000 as the minimum wage for state workers.

Dotun Oyelade, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, made this announcement in a statement.

Oyelade noted that the Technical Committee formed by the state government recommended this new wage.

He explained: “This new scale will be implemented as soon as the consequential adjustments process is completed by the committee which comprises Government and Labour top officials.”

As a result of these developments, private schools are now facing a severe shortage of teachers.

In areas ranging from Ido, Akinyele, Lagelu, Egbeda, Ona Ara, Oluyole, Ibadan North, Ibadan North West, Ibadan North East, to Ibadan South West, and Ibadan North, the situation remains the same.

Similarly, other cities and towns in the state, such as Ogbomoso, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin, and Eruwa, are also experiencing this issue.

Some teachers and parents who spoke with the media attributed this shortage to the state government’s recruitment of teachers and the new minimum wage policy.

An administrator from a private school in Lagelu local government area, speaking anonymously, stated that at least 20 teachers had left the school this term.

He explained that this was due to the recent recruitment of teachers by the Oyo State Government and the new minimum wage.

“The recent recruitment by Oyo State Government and the quest for the new minimum wage by the workers had negatively affected us,” he said.

“As of today, no fewer than 27 teachers left our school at the beginning of this term.

“We are looking for ways to replace them immediately but we are yet to see the new ones that are qualified.

“We have to increase our salary to be able to attract quality teachers and retain the remaining ones that are with us in the school,” he added.

Mrs. Busayo Akindele, a teacher at a private school in Ibadan North local government area, revealed that three teachers did not resume when the new term began.

She mentioned that the school was currently searching for replacements for those who left.

“In our school, three teachers have left. You know the state government recently employed over 5,000 teachers.

“We that are here are also demanding the payment of the new minimum wage. So, this is negatively affecting the majority of the schools in the state.

“We are affected and I am sure other schools are being affected too,” she said.

Mrs. Sade Oladele, a parent from Ido local government area, confirmed that some teachers had left her children’s schools.

“The employment of new teachers by the state government is having negative consequences on private schools in the state.

“You know that the state government recently employed some teachers. I commend the state government for the opportunity given to the qualified teachers.

“It is commendable, at least it will help to increase the standard of education in the state.

“But, at the same time, it is having negative consequences on the private schools,” she remarked.

Omolara, an indigene of Iseyin in the Oke Ogun geopolitical zone, shared that the situation is similar in the Oke Ogun zone.

He said, “It is the same thing we are experiencing in Iseyin.

“Many of the people who are teaching in private schools have left because they have been given letters of appointments by the state government.

“You also need to understand the issue of the new minimum wage. Some schools do not have the capacity to pay, so many teachers have left.”