At the 2024 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja, the President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Amba, called on the federal government to shift the responsibility for funding primary education from local government councils to state governments.

Speaking on the theme “Valuing Teachers’ Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education,” Amba emphasized that the nation must align with global standards to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.

Amba referenced a 2002 Supreme Court judgment that stated local government councils only participate in managing primary education, urging the government to review policies that tie teachers’ salaries and education funding to local councils, which often lack financial capacity. He also criticized the low budgetary allocations to the education sector, which fall short of the recommended benchmarks of at least 6% of GDP or 20% of the national budget, and demanded full implementation of incentives promised to teachers over the past four years to boost their morale.

In response, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, assured teachers of his administration’s commitment to improving their welfare and enhancing the quality of education in Nigeria. The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, praised the dedication of teachers, highlighting their resilience and crucial role in shaping the nation’s future while promising efforts to improve teacher training, professional development, and access to educational resources across the country.