Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
Teachers in Ebonyi State have raised concerns over manpower shortages in schools and outstanding salary arrears, calling on the state government to recruit more teaching personnel and improve the welfare and professional development of teachers.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Ekechi Francis, made the call during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration held at the NUT House in Abakaliki.
Ekechi said the shortage of teachers had made the globally accepted teacher-pupil ratio of 1:30 difficult to achieve in many schools, stressing the need for urgent recruitment to ease the workload on existing teachers.
He also appealed to the state government to provide regular training and retraining for teachers on the use of modern teaching equipment.
The NUT chairman further called for the payment of salary arrears owed teachers affected by the Teachers’ Service Years Harmonisation, as well as the seven-month minimum wage increment arrears owed SUBEB teachers.
He also appealed to the government to provide an 18-seater bus for the union to facilitate its activities.
While commending Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for what he described as his teacher-friendly disposition, Ekechi cited the approval for the recall of Directors in the education sector and the recent payment of an additional N20,000 to SUBEB teachers as some of the steps taken by the administration.
The celebration, with the theme, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing the Status and Shaping Our Futures,” highlighted the contributions of teachers to society and the need for stronger support for the profession.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the occasion and Commissioner for Education, Dr Donatus Ilang, stressed the importance of teachers to the development of society, saying no government could function effectively without them.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Ngozi Otozi, described teachers as the producers of professionals across various fields, including medicine, engineering and nursing.
She urged teachers to remain committed and resilient in the discharge of their duties.
In his keynote address, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ogugua Egwu, questioned whether society was truly “standing with teachers” or merely watching them shoulder the burden of educating the nation under difficult conditions.
Egwu recalled that 60 years ago, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNESCO adopted the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which established principles relating to teachers’ rights, responsibilities, employment conditions and professional status.
Also speaking, Member II of the Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board, Chibuike Nwuzor, commended teachers for their contributions to the development of the state and urged them to remain committed to their profession.
In his address, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru assured teachers that his administration would continue to invest in their welfare and professional development.
Nwifuru said a motivated teacher remained an asset to society, adding that the government would continue to recognise and reward outstanding teachers.
“Your voices matter, and we will continue to reward the most outstanding teachers. We see you, we appreciate you,” the governor said.