For nearly 15 years, a Mathematics graduate identified as Henry has worked at a Lagos unity college as a teacher hired by the Parent Teacher Association. Earning only a 50,000 naira monthly stipend, he is forced to supplement his income with private tutoring. Henry is one of thousands of PTA-funded staff who have become essential to the operations of unity colleges and state-run schools due to a decade-long freeze on federal and state teaching recruitment.
The reliance on PTA staff has often sparked controversy, particularly regarding the transparency of PTA levies used for salaries. Disputes at institutions like the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, resulted in suspensions and legal battles over funding accountability. In response to financial conflicts and rising costs, the Federal Ministry of Education previously capped PTA levies at 12,000 naira per term.
After acknowledging the hardships faced by these underpaid educators during a visit to Kings College, Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa secured a significant policy shift. President Bola Tinubu has approved the integration of 3,252 long-serving PTA teachers into the Federal Civil Service. This initiative aims to address chronic staffing shortages and retain experienced personnel, some of whom have dedicated 25 years to the classroom without permanent status.
Minister Alausa confirmed that an Inter-Ministerial Committee has verified the eligible candidates, which include Education Officers and Technical Instructors. The government is currently finalizing the necessary legal procedures to issue formal appointment letters. While stakeholders like Kings College PTA Chairman Peter Oluwaseye and Southwest Unity Colleges representative Ayopo Somefun have expressed cautious optimism, they view this move as a vital step toward professionalizing the teaching workforce and ensuring fair compensation for those who have sustained the education sector.
