The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has raised concerns over the worsening conditions of teachers in Nigeria.
The union is demanding a Special Teachers’ Salary Structure (STSS) from the Federal and state governments.
ASUSS National President, Sola Adigun, made the call in Abuja during the union’s joint national celebration of World Teachers’ Day.
He said the proposed salary structure would help make teaching more attractive to young Nigerians.
ASUSS demands special salary structure
Adigun said the current pay and working conditions do not reflect the responsibilities teachers carry.
He called for a system that rewards experience, qualifications and professional competence.
According to him, the new structure should also create clear opportunities for career growth.
Adigun said better pay would help attract talented graduates into classrooms across the country.
“We want a structure that will make young Nigerians look at teaching and confidently say: ‘This is a profession in which I can build a rewarding future’,” he said.
Teachers demand better incentives
The ASUSS president also called for a brain-retention policy for teachers.
He said competitive incentives could help Nigeria keep skilled educators in the profession.
He listed professional development and rural posting allowances among the measures needed to retain quality teachers.
Adigun also demanded the full implementation of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022.
He urged all 36 states to implement the law without administrative barriers or selective compliance.
ASUSS seeks better schools and training
The union also called for major improvements in learning environments across Nigeria.
Adigun said schools need modern classrooms, functional ICT laboratories and reliable electricity.
He also listed safe water and well-equipped libraries among the basic facilities schools should provide.
The ASUSS president urged governments to involve teachers when making education policies.
He also called for continuous training, digital skills and stronger ethical standards among educators.
‘Teachers need action, not appreciation’
Adigun said annual celebrations alone cannot solve the problems facing Nigerian teachers.
He noted that teachers often receive praise and awards during World Teachers’ Day.
However, he argued that many of the profession’s major challenges remain unresolved after the celebrations.
“Teachers do not need appreciation alone; they need action,” Adigun said.
He described teachers as nation-builders who prepare professionals and future leaders.
According to him, doctors, lawyers, engineers and politicians all pass through the hands of teachers.
He therefore urged governments to treat investment in teachers as an investment in Nigeria’s future.
Adigun also reminded teachers that demands for better welfare must go alongside professional responsibility.
He urged educators to uphold ethical standards, embrace digital tools and protect their students.
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