Teachers’ Day: Alausa Urges Teachers To Embrace AI, Demands Better Welfare

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has urged Nigerian teachers to embrace emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, while maintaining the professional standards and human connection essential to effective teaching.

 

Alausa spoke in Abuja during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day commemoration and President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards ceremony, held under the theme, “Protecting and Advancing the Status of the Teaching Profession in a Rapidly Changing World.”

 

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the teaching profession through professional development, better working conditions, adequate resources, fair recognition and stronger institutional support.

 

“Teachers deserve professional respect, opportunities to develop throughout their careers, appropriate resources, fair recognition and good working conditions that enable them to teach well,” he said.

 

Alausa said the government would continue to collaborate with state governments, school leaders, professional bodies, organised labour, development partners, communities and parents to strengthen teacher preparation, professional development and recognition.

 

He said ongoing education reforms were placing teachers and learners at the centre, with emphasis on improving learning environments, strengthening institutions, developing skills for a changing economy and generating reliable data for policy decisions.

 

Across several states, however, the celebration was marked by renewed demands for improved welfare, better working conditions, recruitment of more teachers and stronger protection for educators and students.

 

In Oyo State, the Nigeria Union of Teachers demanded the full implementation of the Safe School Programme, the integration of 135 teachers into the Teaching Service Commission and approval of inter-local government transfers for teachers.

 

The union also called for greater flexibility in conversion and career progression, prompt release of grants to school heads and payment of outstanding 2025 leave allowances.

 

The Oyo NUT Chairman, Hassan Fatai, made the demands during the state’s celebration in Ibadan, which was dedicated to schoolchildren and teachers abducted during the May 15 attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area.

 

In Delta State, the NUT called for urgent action on teacher shortages, insecurity, inadequate instructional materials and other challenges affecting educators.

 

The union’s state chairman, Dickson Poubeni, also commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for approving Grade Level 17 career progression for eligible university graduate teachers in public primary schools.

 

Poubeni said the approval had ended the long-standing stagnation of graduate primary school teachers at Grade Level 14, but called for further action on teacher shortages, school security, funding and career progression.

 

Responding to the demands, Oborevwori said his administration was committed to improving teachers’ welfare, training and working conditions.

 

He said the state had approved a 13th-month salary for public servants, including teachers, while efforts were ongoing to make the payment a statutory entitlement.

 

“But supporting teachers is not only about salaries. It is also about training, better working conditions and providing them with the tools they need to teach effectively,” the governor said.

 

In Abia State, Governor Alex Otti ordered the re-engagement of teachers who had been disengaged or retired on account of attaining 60 years but were still below the new retirement age of 65 years.

 

Otti also directed the payment of outstanding check-off dues to teachers within seven days and ordered the settlement of salaries owed to teachers affected by verification issues and the 4,075 newly recruited teachers by the end of October.

 

He further directed the harmonisation of outstanding promotions for 2021 and 2022.

 

In Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji announced N70.5 million in cash rewards for outstanding teachers across the state’s 16 local government areas.

 

He also announced plans to construct a state library in 2027 and highlighted the recruitment of more than 5,500 teachers over four years as part of efforts to address personnel shortages.

 

Oyebanji assured teachers of continued attention to their welfare, including regular salaries, career progression and access to housing and car loans.

 

In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the absorption of more than 1,500 OgunTEACh interns into the mainstream civil service and the distribution of more than N51 million in rewards to outstanding teachers, administrators and schools.

 

The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, said more than 7,000 teachers had been employed since the administration came into office.

 

The state government also earmarked N24 billion through the State Universal Basic Education Board for the provision and rehabilitation of critical education infrastructure.

 

In Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa called for greater investment in teachers, saying educators must be given the tools, dignity and working environment required to perform effectively.

 

Aiyedatiwa, who said he had previously worked as a teacher, said he returned to the classroom in March 2025 and described the experience as important to his understanding of the challenges facing educators.

 

He said more than 2,100 teachers were recruited into public primary and secondary schools in 2025, while the government had continued to provide digital and professional training.

 

The governor also said the state constructed 43 classroom blocks and renovated 75 schools in 2025, alongside the provision of furniture and learning resources.

 

He said the state was also embracing digital education, including AI-powered learning tools, tablets and laptops for digitally trained teachers.

 

“The classroom of tomorrow cannot be built entirely with the tools of yesterday. That is why we are deliberately embracing digital education,” Aiyedatiwa said.

 

In Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo assured teachers of continued government support and said his administration had absorbed 5,000 contract teachers into the state civil service.

 

He added that another 6,000 teachers had been recruited to address staffing shortages in public schools.

 

In Sokoto State, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Manir Dan’iya, called for urgent action on teachers’ salaries, employment security, professional development and welfare.

 

Meanwhile, the Kebbi State NUT defended the state government against allegations of poor funding and inadequate remuneration, describing a circulating social media video making the claims as old, edited and doctored.

 

The union cited the review of teachers’ salaries to N75,000, recruitment of more than 2,000 teachers and investment in schools as evidence of government intervention.

 

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also used the occasion to call for better welfare for teachers, criticising governments that celebrate educators annually without addressing the economic challenges confronting them.

 

Atiku said teachers deserved more than tributes and promised that an ADC administration would prioritise policies aimed at reducing the cost of living, improving employment conditions and strengthening workers’ welfare.

 

“Government cannot praise teachers on this day and leave them to face hardship for the rest of the year. A commemorative message cannot pay a teacher’s bills,” he said.