NUT urges Tinubu to enforce welfare packages for teachers

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the full implementation of the welfare packages that were approved for teachers by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020.

Comrade Audu Amba, who serves as the National President of the union, made this call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Amba stated that although the federal government committed to a special salary structure and various welfare schemes for teachers five years ago, those commitments have yet to be realized.

He explained that the delay in fulfilling those promises is a major contributor to the ongoing issues that negatively impact the motivation, performance, and general welfare of teachers.

Amba urged both the federal and state governments to promptly implement the agreed incentives to help raise teachers’ morale and enhance their commitment to their professional responsibilities.

Among the benefits he highlighted were the payment of a special salary scale for teachers at the basic and secondary levels and the reintroduction of bursaries for students studying education at universities and colleges of education.

He also mentioned a Special Teachers Pension Scheme aimed at retaining experienced educators in the profession and the extension of the retirement age for teachers to 65 years, in addition to other incentives.

“There are so many incentives that are attached to it; housing units for teachers and allowances for science teachers and students reading education courses.”

“Our former president, Muhammadu Buhari, took a bold step to approve all these things for us.”

“We have been writing, we have been talking, and we have been advocating, but none has been implemented.”

“It will interest you to know that in almost all our teachers’ day messages and other forums that we normally engage with government, we passed these messages.”

“We are appealing to President Tinubu to take another bold step in implementing these welfare packages because government is a continuum,” he said.

Amba also acknowledged the efforts and dedication of teachers despite the many challenges they face and encouraged them to continue to stand by the values of their profession.

NAN noted that during the 2020 World Teachers’ Day celebration, the Buhari administration approved a special salary structure specifically for teachers working in basic and secondary schools nationwide.

The same administration also approved an extension in teachers’ years of service, raising it from 35 years to 40 years.

Other benefits included the development of low-cost housing and the provision of special allowances for teachers working in rural areas, as well as unique allowances for science teachers.

The packages further included automatic school admission and free tuition for teachers’ biological children in public institutions, along with automatic job placement for graduates of education.

The broader incentives for teachers also encompassed access to loans for agriculture, housing, vehicles, motorcycles, and other essentials.

According to the Buhari administration, these initiatives were introduced to improve the welfare of teachers and to enhance their commitment to delivering quality education services