The Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, on Sunday decried the shortage of teachers in the state’s public schools.
Bernard Gbenga Ajobiewe, the state chairman of NUT, lamented the shortage at the 2025 World Teachers’ Day in Benin City with the theme, ‘Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession’.
Ajobiewe, who commended the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government for the infrastructural development so far executed in schools, noting that the infrastructure would amount to nothing if there are no teaching personnel.
According to him, the dearth of teachers os more pronounced in the rural areas.
He added that the government of Adams Oshiomhole left behind over 13,000 teachers and that the figure reduced to about 6,000 at the end of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration.
The NUT chairman added that over 7,000 teachers are needed in the basic education system.
“We want to say here that after all the reconstruction and renovations of our schools and there are no teachers in the schools it borne out that nothing has been done.
“We want to say that there is a grossly acute shortage of teachers in our schools especially in our rural areas, and as such we want to beg the government to please recruit more teachers so that the vacuum created can be filled so that teaching and learning can be effective in our schools.
“We also look at the dilapidated structures in some of our schools especially in the rural areas. And I know that the government is trying its best but let us still intensify efforts because there are still challenges in terms of infrastructure
“Our slogan is that an average Edo child should be able to access quality education. So if every Edo child should access quality education that means that all facilities and otherwise should be made available in all schools undermining the status of the location whether it is a hamlet, village or a city all schools must enjoy equal facilities,” he said.
The NUT chairman also demanded the urgent implementation of financial benefits for teachers, promotions and the accrued arrears, provision of comprehensive teachers welfare policy including housing, insurance and rural posting incentives.
His equally called for awards to outstanding performing teachers, students/pupils and the inclusion of NUT leadership in SUBEB as board members in line with the UBEC law.
Ajobiewe, however lauded the governor’s efforts in some areas including regular payment of salaries, support for education reform, payment of N75,000 minimum wage for workers, renovation of schools across the state.
In his goodwill message, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Bernard Joman Egwakhide, also called for the employment of more teachers in the state.
Egwakhide, however, lamented that his investigation revealed that Edo State is one of the states in the country that has the least teachers in the public schools.
Edo NUT decries shortage of teachers in public schools