Category: Education

 

 

Nigeria’s education system is crippled by a crisis of value, where teachers are underpaid, underappreciated, and overworked, says human resources and change management expert Yomi Fawehinmi.

 

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Saturday, Fawehinmi said that while Nigeria has begun to observe World Teachers’ Day, the deeper issues affecting teachers and the education sector remain unresolved.

 

“We went from a country that wasn’t celebrating World Teachers’ Day to this. Some states have used the opportunity to make a difference. Some give gifts, some give grants, which is good and very helpful, but as a profession all over the world, the teaching profession is one of the things that suffers the most.”

 

According to him, poor remuneration and entrenched social and gender biases have weakened the profession and diminished its appeal.

“Somebody in education earns about 25% less than his colleagues with the same degree elsewhere, even in America,” he said.

 

“Professions where there are more females tend to be paid less and tend to be overlooked. Compare it anywhere, nurses versus doctors, air hostesses versus pilots, the gender reflects the pay,” he added.

 

Fawehinmi argued that societies that value progress prioritise the quality of their teachers.

 

“In South Korea or Finland, the most brilliant students go into teaching. When you don’t get into the teacher’s college, then you go and become a doctor or lawyer. The most brilliant are teaching their children,” he said.

 

He contrasted this with Nigeria’s approach, where teaching often attracts the least performing students, a practice that undermines education from its foundation.

 

“We had a minister that said the lowest cut-off mark for university admission was for teacher training. It’s a strange system where the weakest students train your children,” he observed.

 

Fawehinmi said the impact of this misplaced priority is visible in the poor comprehension and reasoning skills of many young Nigerians.

“Go to social media and read people’s comments. You will know that English language wasn’t well taught. One of the biggest problems we have today is the problem of comprehension,” he said.

 

He also criticised the growing obsession with expensive private schools, noting that high tuition fees do not translate to better learning outcomes.

 

“If I pay ₦15 million for my child’s education and you pay ₦1 million, do you see ₦15 million reasoning in my child?” he asked. “These schools are just expensive; it’s not an efficient system.”

Fawehinmi further questioned the logic behind costly sports levies in private schools that yield no meaningful results.

 

“Why is it that you have schools where they tell you to pay hundreds of thousands for sports levy, and none of those schools has produced anyone that has represented Nigeria in any major sport in the last 15 years?” he asked.

 

He stressed that true education should be measured by learning outcomes, not infrastructure or prestige, urging parents to align schooling with their children’s individual talents and goals.

 

“The point is for us as parents to understand the choices we are making about schooling for our children and know the implications. There is no school that can do everything because every child has unique talents and needs,” he said.

 

Fawehinmi urged policymakers to redefine education beyond classroom learning and recognise that cultural values shape national development.

 

“We must redefine that word education. One of the biggest problems with our commissioners and ministers for education is they feel education is schooling. Education happens in school and outside of school,” he said.

 

He concluded with a call for a cultural reawakening in how Nigerians value learning and teachers.

 

“Education is not just about schooling; it’s about the total shaping of human thought and value. Until we treat teachers and education with dignity, Nigeria will continue to produce citizens who can read but cannot reason,” Fawehinmi said.

 

 

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved a final reopening for a period of hours to enable tertiary institutions yet to complete their student verification exercise to do so.

 

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday by Director, Strategic Communications of the Fund, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.

 

Oluwatuyi said the portal would be accessible from 12:00 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, to 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

 

The extension, she said was intended to ensure that all eligible students were duly captured and verified by their respective institutions as part of the ongoing 2024/2025 NELFUND loan application process.

 

“Institutions are strongly advised to make full use of this final opportunity.

“Failure to complete the verification process within the stipulated period will result in the affected institutions forfeiting participation in the current loan cycle.

 

“A situation that will regrettably disadvantage their students who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the loan scheme,” she said.

 

She added that in the interest of transparency and accountability, the list of defaulting institutions would be published.

 

Oluwatuyi reiterated the Fund’s commitment to fostering equitable access to higher education through the efficient, transparent, and inclusive management of the scheme.

 

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has faulted the Federal Government’s last-minute appeal for the union to suspend its proposed warning strike, saying the intervention came “a little too late.”

 

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, stated this on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, accusing the government of failing to act promptly on the union’s long-standing demands.

 

“The problem we have with this government and this Ministry of Education is that they are slow in responding to our demands,” Piwuna said.

 

He recalled that the union had given the government three weeks to address its grievances after a previous meeting in Sokoto, but received no communication during that period.

Piwuna stated, “We went for a meeting in Sokoto, and at that time we were about to embark on a strike action.

 

“They gave us three weeks, we accepted the three weeks, but we never heard a word from them until the three weeks elapsed — not a word from them, courtesy to even say, ‘Oh gentlemen, we think we are running short, three weeks is around the corner, we are unable to meet with you on so-and-so date.’ Nothing, until we threatened action.”

 

Piwuna said the government only reached out two working days before the proposed strike, appealing for it to be suspended.

“Yesterday, they appealed to us not to embark on action. Our 2009 agreement — which is still being renegotiated after eight years — remains undone. We have not concluded on it, and two working days before a strike action, you come to appeal to us. I think the appeal has come a little too late,” the ASUU President added.

 

Meanwhile, Piwuna insisted that the union would proceed with its planned industrial action at the expiration of its ultimatum on Sunday unless the government takes urgent steps to address its demands.

 

He said, “Their ultimatum expires on Sunday, and after that, there will be a warning strike unless something substantial comes out from the government. So, in the next 48 hours, we expect to receive something substantial from the government.

 

“Then, we can go back to our members and ask, ‘Do you think this is sufficient for us to hold on?’ and we will do what our members ask us to do.”

 

ASUU had directed its branches to prepare for a two-week warning strike expected to begin on October 13.

 

The latest standoff between ASUU and the Federal Government comes despite ongoing negotiations aimed at averting another round of industrial action in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

 

On Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed in Abuja that the government had entered the final phase of talks with ASUU and other unions to resolve lingering disputes over welfare, funding, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.

 

 

 

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions have declared a one-day protest for Thursday over the Federal Government’s failure to meet their demands.

 

Acting under the Joint Action Committee, both unions have directed all their branches to hold joint emergency meetings on Wednesday to mobilise members for protest activities.

 

These will include marches on campuses, placard displays, and press briefings.

 

The decision followed a comprehensive review of government actions at JAC’s meeting on October 6, after several ultimatums had expired without resolution.

Among the contentious issues are the alleged inequitable disbursement of the N50bn earned allowances; delays in renegotiating the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreements; non-payment of two months’ outstanding salaries; arrears of 25 and 35 per cent salary increments; and non-remittance of third-party deductions for May and June 2022.

 

JAC had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government on September 15, later extending it by another 14 days — which expired on Monday, October 6.

 

In a circular dated October 6 and titled “Commencement of Protest Actions”, signed by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions directed full participation by all members.

The memo read in part, “Following the inauguration of the Joint Consultative Committee by the Honourable Minister of Education to look into the demands of JAC of NASU & SSANU, the committee met twice — on Friday, 19th September 2025, and Monday, 6th October 2025 — with little progress, as our demands remain unresolved despite the extension of the ultimatum.

 

“In light of this development, the National JAC hereby directs branch leadership in universities and inter-university centres nationwide to convene a joint congress on Wednesday, 8th October 2025, to mobilise for a massive and effective one-day protest on Thursday, 9th October 2025.”

 

It added that all members in both federal and state-owned universities “are expected to strictly comply with this directive,” stressing that unity and adherence were essential for success.

 

SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, recently accused the government of insincerity, warning that the unions could declare an indefinite strike if their demands remain unmet.

 

“Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes’; it will be the grandfather of all strikes,” Ibrahim said. “When SSANU or NASU strikes, you know what it means. We must take our destinies in our hands.”

 

He lamented the poor welfare of non-academic staff in universities, describing them as “the worst hit financially, economically, and psychologically.”

 

Like the Academic Staff Union of Universities, both SSANU and NASU have been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over staff welfare and funding issues.

 

 

A woman identified on Facebook as Jennifer Nwafor has accused her daughter’s school in Abakpa Nike, Enugu State of shielding a teacher who allegedly flogged her three-year-old child, leaving visible marks on her legs.

 

In a series of now-viral videos shared on Facebook on Monday, the visibly distraught mother was seen confronting some individuals at the school, demanding to see the teacher responsible for the assault.

 

Nwafor, in her caption accompanying the post, wrote, “See what a teacher did to my child in school today. A 3 years old child. Guys, am bleeding right now.

 

“They employed a m@d woman as a teacher and they hid the teacher and refused to bring her out.”

In one of the clips, Nwafor was heard saying, “They are hiding the teacher, they are refusing to bring her out because all of them are involved in it.

 

“Look at my child, a child of three years. They should provide the teacher, I’m not going anywhere until I see the teacher that flogged my three year old child like that.”

Responding to concerned Facebook users who asked about the welfare of her daughter on Tuesday, Nwafor wrote, “She is having fever but under treatment now. She is getting better.

 

“The school authority arranged a meeting today so I will update everyone with a video on the outcome.”

 

The videos, which quickly went viral, have sparked widespread outrage online.

 

Commenting on Nwafor’s post on Facebook, Becca John wrote, “Nursery pupils are still very tender to be given this kind of maltreatment.”

 

Sunday Nebo commented, “Two wrongs can’t make a right. At worst report the matter to the police or any appropriate authority. What if the teacher is stronger than you and if you try to fight and she beat you join?”

“The teacher need to be dealt with,” Nsikak Essien wrote.

 

St Kingdom Nwankwoala added, “Your actions should be towards arresting that teacher and making the school pay for not properly vetting their teachers before employing them. This your Facebook actions should translate to real action.

 

“If I am the one, I will not be crying on Facebook, I would be talking to all necessary agencies and the Nigerian police. That teacher will not sleep in his or her house tonight and throughout this week.”

Nwamaka Jidere wrote, “Omg , the flogging is too much. But ma, two wrongs can’t make a right, you might decend on the teacher with anger. Let the school handle the teacher accordingly and she will pay for all the child medical bills.”

 

This incident adds to growing concerns over corporal punishment in Nigerian schools.

 

In January, a teacher identified as Stella Nwadigo of Christ-Mitots International School, Isawo, Ikorodu, Lagos State, was arrested after she was captured on video repeatedly slapping a three-year-old pupil, Abayomi Michael, for not writing as instructed.

 

Watch video below:

 

𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐎𝐥𝐝

 

A woman identified on Facebook as Jennifer Nwafor has accused her daughter’s school in Abakpa Nike, Enugu State of… pic.twitter.com/saZA4wzLli

 

The Nigeria Union of Teachers in Cross River State has urged the state government to increase funding for the education sector from 15% to 26% of the annual budget to boost productivity.

 

The union’s chairman, Comrade Gregory Olayi, appealed for the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration at the U.J. Esuene Sports Stadium on Sunday in Calabar.

 

Olayi also demanded the promotion of teachers to Grade Level 17 and appointment as permanent secretaries, citing similar practices in neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers.

 

He said meeting teachers’ demands would boost productivity.

He said, “Meeting teachers’ demands would boost productivity, including promotion of teachers to Grade Level 17 and appointment as permanent secretaries as seen in neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers.”

 

He equally highlighted key issues, including the release of the education budget, employment of more teachers in primary and secondary schools and prompt payment of salaries for primary school teachers.

The NUT chief lamented that the current teacher shortage has created vacancies, particularly after 200 teachers moved from secondary schools and 100 from primary schools to the mainstream sector.

 

He urged the state government to address these concerns to revitalise the education sector.

 

In his response, Governor Bassey Otu, represented at the event by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Stephen Odey, assured the teachers of the state government’s willingness to make the teaching profession attractive.

 

He said the state government has concluded arrangements for the establishment of an education trust fund to provide succour for teachers in the state.

 

“We are doing a radical transformation at the Secondary Education Board that would favour those in the teaching profession,” Odey said.