Teachers’ Welfare Packages: N345 Billion Monthly Required for Full Implementation of Proposed Salary Scheme

In 2020, the government made a promise to teachers regarding a new welfare package that included an increased minimum wage of N150,000 per month.

However, due to unfavorable economic conditions, the full implementation of the scheme has been slow.

According to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), there are about 2.3 million licensed teachers in their register, most of whom are government employees.

To pay these teachers the proposed new minimum wage, all tiers of government would require at least N345 billion monthly.

So far, only 15 out of the 36 states have implemented the new retirement age of 40 years of service and 65 years of age (whichever comes first), while the Southwest region has not started implementing the new retirement age.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) expressed frustration with the government’s slow progress in implementing the scheme.

Dr. Mike Ene, the Secretary General of the NUT, said that they are still waiting for the living wage being contemplated for workers and that the union is not sleeping on the matter.

TRCN’s Registrar, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, expressed hope that the new administration under President Bola Tinubu would continue where the Buhari government left off.

He mentioned that the TRCN is not a labour union and is doing its part in the process, while the NUT has a significant role to play in advocating for teachers’ welfare.

The economic situation in the country has affected the implementation of the new salary package, with some states only implementing 50% of the proposed items.

The shortage of teachers in various fields and the lack of recruitment in many states further exacerbate the challenges faced by the education sector.

The National Council on Establishment, presided over by the Head of Service of the Federation, finalized the new retirement age in December 2021, but it is still not being implemented in some states, including Lagos.

The full implementation of the proposed salary package for teachers remains a pressing issue that needs to be addressed by the government.

It is crucial for all stakeholders, including the NUT, TRCN, and the government, to collaborate in finding a solution that benefits teachers and improves the education sector in Nigeria.