Ebonyi Teachers Demand Urgent Recruitment, Payment of Salary Arrears
Teachers across Ebonyi State have called on the state government to urgently recruit more teaching staff and clear outstanding salary arrears, warning that manpower shortages are placing heavy pressure on educators and affecting public schools.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Francis Ekechi, made the call during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration at the NUT Secretariat in Abakaliki.
Ekechi said severe understaffing had made it difficult for many public schools to achieve the UNESCO-recommended teacher-to-pupil ratio of 1:30. He said the shortage had increased the workload on existing teachers and made immediate recruitment necessary to sustain quality teaching.
The NUT chairman also called for regular training and retraining focused on modern teaching methods and instructional technology. He further demanded the immediate payment of salary arrears owed to teachers affected by the Teachers’ Service Years Harmonisation policy.
Ekechi also raised concerns over seven months of minimum wage increment arrears owed to primary school teachers under the State Universal Basic Education Board. He appealed for the provision of an 18-seater bus to support the union’s administrative operations.
Despite the demands, Ekechi commended Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s administration for what he described as its teacher-friendly approach. He cited the recent recall of education-sector directors and a N20,000 monthly allowance increase for SUBEB teachers.
The Nigeria Labour Congress chairman in Ebonyi State, Ogugua Egwu, urged government and society to move beyond public statements and take concrete steps to improve teachers’ welfare. Education Commissioner Donatus Ilang also stressed the importance of teachers to the state’s development.
Governor Nwifuru, in his remarks, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to teacher welfare and improved school infrastructure. He described motivated teachers as essential to societal development and promised continued recognition and investment in educators.