NUT laments delay in implementing special salary scale for teachers
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticised the Federal Government for failing to implement the special salary scale approved for teachers in basic and secondary schools under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The NUT National Deputy President, Kizito Kalu, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while delivering the union’s address to mark the 2026 World Teachers’ Day at Eagle Square.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing the Status and Shaping Our Futures.”
Kalu said teachers deserved remuneration that reflected the importance of their responsibilities and the prevailing economic conditions in the country.
He recalled that the Federal Government, under Buhari, approved a special salary structure for teachers in basic and secondary schools in 2022, alongside other welfare packages.
“Unfortunately, four years after the approvals, implementation has not commenced,” Kalu said.
He urged the government to take concrete steps towards implementing the new salary regime, saying improved remuneration would boost teachers’ morale and enhance the dignity of the profession.
“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 leader also called for better working conditions for teachers, stressing that they could not be expected to perform optimally in challenging environments.
He identified overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture and insufficient instructional materials among the challenges affecting effective teaching and learning in schools.
Kalu urged the government to address these deficiencies as part of broader efforts to improve the quality of education and support teachers across the country.
World Teachers’ Day is observed annually on October 5. The global event was inaugurated in 1994 following the 44th session of the International Conference on Education in Geneva.
