The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency of Osun State, Taiwo Oluga, has called for comprehensive reforms in the teaching profession, including a special salary structure and improved welfare for teachers across the country. Oluga made the call in a statement commemorating the 2026 World Teachers’ Day, observed globally on October 5.
She described teachers as critical builders of the nation’s human capital, stressing that the quality of Nigeria’s education system would remain closely tied to the welfare, motivation and working conditions of those responsible for educating future generations. The APC candidate advocated a special salary structure for teachers, saying the peculiar responsibilities and demands of the profession required a remuneration system that adequately recognised and rewarded their contributions.
She also called for policies capable of attracting the “best brains and minds” into the teaching profession, noting that Nigeria could not build a competitive education system without highly skilled, committed and motivated professionals in its classrooms. According to her, improved remuneration should be complemented by better career prospects, continuous professional development and improved working conditions for teachers.
Oluga further urged the government to ensure the full and unconditional implementation of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, which provides for teachers to retire at 65 years or after 40 years of pensionable service, whichever comes earlier. She said the legislation should be implemented consistently, arguing that its provisions were designed to recognise the peculiar nature of the teaching profession and allow experienced teachers to contribute meaningfully to the education of younger generations for longer.
Her call comes amid continuing legal and administrative questions over the application of retirement provisions to teachers and education officers. In a 2026 judgment, the National Industrial Court held that the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act protects teachers and education officers against inconsistent application of other retirement policies. Oluga also called for a comprehensive improvement of infrastructure in public schools across the country.
She noted that teachers could not be expected to deliver quality education in environments without adequate classrooms, furniture, laboratories, libraries, teaching aids, electricity, water and other essential facilities. She urged governments at all levels to increase investment in public education, stressing that infrastructure development should remain a key component of efforts to improve learning outcomes and provide Nigerian children with a conducive environment for learning.
The APC candidate said the annual celebration of teachers should go beyond ceremonies and commendations to include concrete measures aimed at improving their dignity, welfare and professional status. She urged governments, policymakers, parents and other stakeholders to recognise the strategic role teachers play in national development and work together towards creating a more sustainable and rewarding profession.
“Teachers are the foundation upon which every other profession is built. Every doctor, lawyer, engineer, journalist, administrator and leader has passed through the hands of a teacher,” Oluga said. “We must therefore move beyond celebrating teachers once a year. We must put in place policies that will make teaching a profession of choice for our best minds, reward those already in the profession and provide them with the tools and environment they need to succeed.”
Oluga congratulated teachers across Nigeria on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, describing their contributions to nation-building as invaluable. World Teachers’ Day is observed annually on October 5 to celebrate teachers and draw attention to the conditions and support required for them to perform their duties effectively. The 2026 observance marks 60 years of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. Ends
