World Teachers’ Day: ASUSS President Calls for Collaboration, Recognition, and Improved Welfare for Teachers

The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Comrade Sola Adigun, has called for renewed collaboration and stronger partnerships between teachers, government agencies, and education stakeholders to reposition Nigeria’s education sector for excellence. He made this appeal while addressing teachers and dignitaries during the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration held nationwide under the theme, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession.”

Comrade Adigun said the theme aptly captures the need for teamwork and shared responsibility in education delivery, noting that “teaching has never been a job for lone rangers; it is a collective responsibility.” He stressed that the success of education depends on the joint efforts of teachers, parents, policymakers, and government, urging that teachers must be given an active voice in shaping the future of education.

The ASUSS president commended the Federal Ministry of Education for what he described as progressive steps toward inclusiveness, including the inauguration of ASUSS representatives into the expanded 5th Governing Council of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in July 2025. He also acknowledged the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme as a significant policy move bridging skill development and classroom learning. States such as Ekiti and Bayelsa, which have made technical education tuition-free, also received commendation for their proactive efforts.

However, Adigun lamented that despite these achievements, the union’s registration certificate—approved 17 years ago—has yet to be released. He described this as an obstacle to full collaboration in the education sector, insisting that secondary school teachers deserve an independent and legitimate voice to advocate for their professional interests.

The ASUSS president identified key challenges affecting education, including non-compliance with the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, poor teacher remuneration, infrastructural decay, and insecurity in schools. He expressed disappointment that 16 states have yet to implement the retirement age extension despite court rulings, warning that “no society develops beyond the level of its education.”

In Ekiti State, Adigun commended Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for his consistent support for education and for sustaining the annual celebration of World Teachers’ Day. He described Oyebanji as a “teacher-friendly governor” and praised his administration’s commitment to repositioning education in the state. Nonetheless, he made a number of appeals on behalf of teachers, including the payment of outstanding leave bonuses, implementation of the 65-year retirement age, appointment and legalisation of the office of Tutors-General, provision of utility vehicles for their offices, approval of Grade Level 17 for all categories of workers, and speedy implementation of the 2024/2025 promotion exercise.

Comrade Adigun also encouraged teachers to register with the TRCN, describing professional certification as “a mark of dignity and competence.” He emphasised that ASUSS remains open to dialogue and partnership with government and sister unions to improve teacher welfare and restore the pride of the teaching profession.

He concluded his address with a firm declaration of solidarity: “No teacher can succeed alone. No union can succeed alone. No ministry can succeed alone. But together, we can fight malpractice, improve welfare, equip our schools, protect our children, and uplift the teaching profession.”

Adigun reaffirmed ASUSS’s commitment to dialogue, innovation, and collaboration in advancing the educational goals of the nation, adding that the union will continue to stand for professionalism, fairness, and the dignity of teachers across Nigeria.