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The recent approval of new salary structure for teachers and review of service years by President Muhammadu Buhari has been described as an unprecedented step which will linger for a long time in the anal of history.
Cross section of educators who spoke to us said the president’s pronouncement has opened a new chapter in the teaching profession.
The Chairman, Kwara State House of Assembly Committee on Education and Human Capital Development and member representing Okuta-Yashikira Constituency, Honourable Muhammed Baba-Salihu Boriya while applauding what he described as a new dawn in the life of Nigerian teachers said as a trained teacher, the benefits are encouraging.
Honourable Baba-Salihu explained that increasing teachers year of service from thirty five to forty and the numerous benefits such as scholarship for children of teachers who are willing to study education and automatic employment for those who want to become teachers among others is highly encouraging.
He said although, the scheme is starting with federal teachers at the moment, teachers all over the country should work harder as a way of reciprocating the gesture of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I think all is set for education to move to the next level in Nigeria, what is left is for teachers to see how they can compliment efforts of the Federal Government; I think it is the first of its kind, I remember when I was in school, a course mate of mine from Ghana said he was given a scholarship to Nigeria because he wanted to study education at the University of Ilorin, I asked myself when will Nigerians enjoy this type of benefit? Not knowing it is coming on the way, with this act of special salary scale and review of years of service, President Muhammadu Buhari is a messiah to Nigeria because as a trained teacher myself, am very happy and proud,” Honourable Baba-Salihu said.
He also expressed hope that the long awaited prestige and sense of belonging for teachers has finally become a reality.
Former National Editor of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade Olusola Dosumu said it is a divine intervention after many years of agitation because the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has been looking forward to these incentives since the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
A retired director at the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Salihu Adebisi-Bello thanked President Buhari for what he described as a bold step in changing the narrative of teaching profession in the country.
He said the teaching profession has been humiliated over the years due to so many factors thereby turning it to an all comers occupation.
Alhaji Adebisi-Bello who recalled that only the best out of the best students were enrolled into teachers college in the 1960s pointed out that with the latest development, only competent hands would be recruited.
Former Kwara State Chairman of the NUT, who also served as NLC chairman in the State, Comrade Farouk Akanbi observed that President Buhari needs to go a step further so that teachers across the country would benefit.
Comrade Akanbi maintained that if care is not taken, only selected teachers would be enjoying the salary scale and other incentives.
President Muhammadu Buhari represented by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu announced review of teachers service years from 35 to 40 years and approved a new salary structure for them, a gesture identified by observers as best independence gift on world teachers day.
