National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Amba, has stated that teachers deserve a special salary structure that will attract the best brains into the profession and restore its dignity.

Amba warned that the union would shut down primary schools indefinitely in states that have failed to implement the N70,000 national minimum wage for primary school teachers.

He specifically mentioned Gombe and Zamfara States as among the states yet to implement the new wage for primary school teachers, even when other categories of workers in these states are already benefiting from the adjustment.

Amba disclosed that the union’s National Executive Council (NEC), scheduled to meet shortly, would review statistics of non-complying states and issue directives to teachers in affected states to down tools.

The NUT president lamented the continued neglect of the teaching profession, stressing that improved welfare and a special salary structure would make teaching more attractive and competitive.

“We will continue to agitate for the teaching profession to be taken to the next level in terms of welfare. Let it be so attractive in terms of remuneration. We don’t need to look for people to come into teaching. People should be looking for opportunities to join the teaching profession,” he stated.

Amba noted that teaching should not be treated as a last resort for unemployed graduates, but as a respected profession reserved for qualified, experienced and intelligent individuals.

He noted that countries such as Finland and Canada have made significant progress in education by prioritising teachers’ welfare, thereby making the profession highly desirable.

He expressed concern over the growing japa syndrome, revealing that teachers are increasingly leaving Nigeria for better opportunities abroad, including neighbouring African countries, due to poor welfare and working conditions at home.

Amba also decried the poor state of infrastructure in many public primary schools, where pupils sit on bare floors, and teachers lack basic facilities, including chairs for marking scripts.

“Government is trying, but it needs to do more. Yes, the present administration has made positive developments, but we will continue to agitate so that more emphasis is given to education and teachers’ welfare,” he added.

While commending the recent salary increase for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Amba insisted that basic education remains the foundation of the country’s educational system and must not be neglected.

He further highlighted disparities in the implementation of the minimum wage across states, noting that while some state governments have implemented it for civil servants and secondary school teachers, primary school teachers under local government education authorities are often excluded.

He cited the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where primary school teachers reportedly embarked on a three-month strike before the minimum wage was implemented.

Also speaking at the event, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, advocated a special salary structure for Nigerian teachers to reflect their critical role in national development.

He said the issue goes beyond minimum wage implementation and requires a deliberate commitment by all tiers of government to prioritise education and teachers’ welfare.