Some stakeholders in the education sector have called on the Federal Government to fast track the implementation of approved incentives for teachers to ensure effective service delivery.
They made the call at the celebration of the “World Teachers’ Day” on Wednesday in Abuja, saying that the present administration should use its remaining months in office to implement the incentives.
The World Teachers’ Day has as its theme, “The Transformation of Education begins with Teachers”.
It seeks to highlight the important role teachers are expected to play in transforming and shaping the future of education in the midst of growing societal needs and challenges of the 21st century.
Speaking at the event, the National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr Titus Amba said that the day was set aside to appreciate the important roles teachers play in the transformation of humanity and society.
According to Amba, it has been acknowledged that teachers are the engines at the heart of the education systems.
“Today’s occasion marks the 26th edition of the World Teachers’ Day celebration in Nigeria.
“As the global community takes steps through the recent Transforming Education Summit to revitalise national and global efforts to achieve SDG 4, every country must undertake to address the critical issues of shortage of teachers.
“They should also address the lack of opportunities for quality training and continuing professional development, poor working conditions of teachers and lack of recognition of teachers’ professional status among others.
“This year’s World Teachers’ Day, therefore, provides us the opportunity to re-echo our call for teachers to be provided with opportunities for training and continuing professional development,” he said.
Amba said that teachers should be provided with safe and conducive environment, be adequately equipped, empowered, motivated and supported to drive the process of transforming education.
He, however, commended the Federal Government’s efforts towards improving the welfare of teachers.
Amba listed some of the approved welfare packages for teachers to include; payment of special salary scale in basic and secondary schools, reintroduction of bursary award to Education students in universities and colleges of education.
Others he listed were, special Teachers Pension Scheme to enable the teaching profession retain its experienced talents as well as to extend teachers’ retirement age among others.
“The leadership of the NUT and the entire teachers of Nigeria will be very grateful, if the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022, is implemented for all teachers across the Federation,” Amba said.
The president congratulated the teachers for their great service to humanity and nation building.
Similarly; Ms Odinakachi Ahanonu, Policy Advisory, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All said it was so sad that these promises had been made since 2020 and no implementation yet.
“We are in 2022 and they are still making consultation. Let’s bear in mind that this government has barely seven months to leave office.
“Looking at our usual attitude of not complimenting what the previous government does, if these incentives are not implemented before this present government leaves, then there is going to be another struggle for teachers.
“So I am of the opinion that this present government should make sure that these incentives are being implemented before they leave the office because the quality of children we have determines the quality of teachers,” Ahanonu said.
Mr Victor Adejo, one of the teachers, said most of the teachers that had retired were yet to be paid.
“The government should speed up the process of the implementation of 65 years retirement age and 40 years of service and back it up with payment.
“This is because most of them that are retired are still in service, and they have removed their names from the payroll and they have not paid them since then even when they have been teaching,” Adejo said. (NAN)
