The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on the Federal Government to significantly increase education funding and enhance the welfare of teachers, warning that continued neglect of the profession could jeopardise the nation’s future.
Speaking during the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja, NLC President Joe Ajaero lamented the persistent underpayment and poor working conditions faced by teachers, despite their critical role in shaping national development.
He described the profession as the “queen of all professions,” yet one that remains “neglected and starved.”
“The paradox is stark: while society heaps praises on teachers, they remain the most neglected and starved profession. Teachers are praised to heaven but starved on earth,” Ajaero said in a statement.
He urged the government to comply with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommendation that at least six per cent of a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 20 per cent of public expenditure be dedicated to education. According to Ajaero, Nigeria’s current investment falls short of this benchmark, contributing to a shortage of qualified teachers and worsening student–teacher ratios.
Ajaero also condemned the exploitation of teachers in private schools, stating that many are denied fair wages, basic rights, and social protection. He called on the Ministers of Labour and Employment, and Education, to take immediate steps to ensure that private school teachers are allowed to form and join unions, in line with the Nigerian Constitution and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98.
He warned that failure to invest in teachers’ welfare could accelerate brain drain in the education sector, with professionals seeking better opportunities abroad or in other industries.
“You cannot give what you do not have. Teachers who are not adequately trained, motivated, and supported cannot be expected to deliver quality education. If we continue on this path, the future of our children and indeed the country is at stake,” he cautioned.
The NLC President advocated for a national framework to train unqualified teachers, improve professional development, and address the country’s high pupil-to-teacher ratio, which remains significantly above international standards.
World Teachers’ Day 2025 was celebrated globally under the theme: “The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse Teacher Shortages”. Ajaero noted that the theme is particularly relevant to Nigeria, where the shortage of qualified teachers has become increasingly alarming.
He concluded by urging all levels of government to demonstrate political will by prioritising the welfare of teachers as a vital step towards meaningful reform in the education sector.
