The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has called on federal and state governments to introduce a Special Teachers’ Salary Structure (STSS) to improve the welfare of teachers and make the profession more attractive to young Nigerians.
The union’s National President, Sola Adigun, made the call in Abuja on Monday during ASUSS’ first joint national celebration of World Teachers’ Day.
The event was held under the theme, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping our Futures.”
The celebration also coincided with ASUSS’ third Annual National Workshop, which focused on “The Impact of Ethics and Attitudinal Change in Managerial Leadership.”
ASUSS wants teaching treated as a special profession
Adigun said teachers’ salaries and working conditions do not adequately reflect the responsibilities they carry in educating and preparing future generations.
He said the proposed salary structure should recognise teachers’ qualifications, experience and professional competence while providing clearer opportunities for career advancement.
According to him, better remuneration would also help change perceptions of teaching among young graduates and make the profession a more attractive long-term career.
“We want a structure that will make young Nigerians look at teaching and confidently say: ‘This is a profession in which I can build a rewarding future’,” he said.
Union calls for measures to retain skilled teachers
Beyond salaries, ASUSS called for a broader teacher-retention policy aimed at preventing experienced and highly skilled educators from leaving the profession.
Adigun proposed competitive incentives, continuous professional development and rural posting allowances as some of the measures that could encourage qualified teachers to remain in classrooms across the country.
The union’s position is that improving teacher welfare should go hand in hand with improving the conditions in which teachers work.
ASUSS demands implementation of teachers’ retirement law
The union president also called for what he described as the unconditional implementation of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022 across all 36 states.
He urged state governments to remove administrative obstacles and avoid selective implementation of the legislation.
Adigun further called on governments to respect court decisions relating to union representation and the rights of secondary school teachers to belong to ASUSS.
Schools need better infrastructure
ASUSS also urged governments to improve learning environments in both urban and rural communities.
The union called for schools to be equipped with modern classrooms, functional information and communication technology laboratories, reliable electricity, safe water and adequately stocked libraries.
Adigun said teachers should also have a greater role in the formulation of education policies that directly affect their work.
He called for continuous training, digital-skills development and stronger ethical standards in school management and union structures.
‘Teachers need action, not appreciation alone’
Adigun said annual celebrations and public praise for teachers would not resolve the challenges facing educators.
He argued that Nigeria must move beyond speeches and ceremonial recognition towards practical measures that improve teachers’ professional and economic circumstances.
“Teachers do not need appreciation alone; they need action,” he said.
He referred to the six decades since the 1966 ILO/UNESCO recommendation concerning the status of teachers, saying Nigeria must continue to examine how educators are treated.
Teachers described as foundation of every profession
Adigun described teachers as central to the development of every other sector of the economy.
He noted that professionals including doctors, lawyers, engineers and politicians all pass through the education system and, therefore, through the hands of teachers.
He said teachers do more than deliver academic subjects, arguing that they also contribute to character development, talent discovery and the preparation of future leaders.
“When we invest in teachers, we are investing in Nigeria’s future,” he said.
ASUSS urges teachers to uphold professional standards
While demanding improved pay and working conditions, Adigun also urged teachers to take responsibility for maintaining high professional and ethical standards.
He encouraged educators to embrace digital tools, continue developing their skills and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of students.
The union’s position places better teacher welfare alongside professional accountability as key elements in strengthening Nigeria’s secondary education system.
