NUT laments non-implementation of special salary scale for teachers

The National Union of Teachers has decried the failure of the Federal Government to implement the special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools approved under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

The NUT National Deputy President, Kizito Kalu, made this known in Abuja on Monday, while delivering the 2026 World Teachers Day address at Eagle Square.

The NUT’s theme for the 2026 WTD is “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing the status and shaping our futures.”

Kalu said, “Teachers must receive remuneration that reflects the importance of their responsibilities and the prevailing economic realities in the country. We wish to recall that the Federal Government, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, gave approval for the implementation of a special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools in the year 2022 alongside other welfare packages.

“Unfortunately, four years after the approvals, implementation has not commenced.

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“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.”

Kalu also called for improved working conditions, noting that teachers cannot be expected to perform optimally in environments characterised by “overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture, insufficient instructional materials.”

World Teachers Day was inaugurated on October 5, 1994, at the 44th session of the International Conference on Education in Geneva.

Deborah Tolu-Kolawole is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with four years of experience covering Nigeria’s vast education sector as well as related areas such as politics, health, security, and labour. She blends rigorous reporting with digital storytelling to bring clarity and insight to complex issues affecting learners, educators, and policymakers. Deborah was a nominee for The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) Prize in Journalism, recognising her impactful reporting and contributions to Nigerian media. Her work reflects strong newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism. In addition to her reporting, she is fluent in multiple languages and serves as a contributing member of The Punch editorial board.

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