By: Mandy Willy
A stakeholder in the education sector and retired Director of Education in the Rivers State Ministry of Education, Reginald Osigbo, has called on the federal and state governments to urgently improve welfare packages for teachers across the country.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, Osigbo decried the persistent neglect of teachers’ welfare and wellbeing despite their indispensable role in shaping the nation’s future.
He described teachers as the unsung builders of the nation, emphasizing that their contributions to human development and national progress often go unrecognized.
“Teachers remain the pivot on which the curriculum, educational policies, and developmental programmes revolve. Every day, from as early as 8 a.m. till late in the afternoon, they nurture, guide, and mentor children entrusted to their care, shaping their intellect and character in line with national standards.”
According to him, children who come to school without early childhood training or basic developmental foundations are molded by teachers into confident, competent, and globally competitive individuals.
“The popular saying, ‘If you can read and write, thank your teacher,’ remains true. Teachers produce every other profession doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, and even policymakers. Yet, they remain some of the most underappreciated professionals in the country,” Osigbo added.
He decried the disparity between teachers’ pay and that of other public officials, noting that many local government councillors earn far more than educators. Many serving and retired teachers, he said, are poorly remunerated and lack incentives for optimal performance.
Stakeholders are therefore calling for improved welfare packages, including better salaries, housing schemes, car loans, free medical services, conducive teaching environments, and continuous professional development. They also advocate strict supervision in schools, removal of unqualified personnel, and recognition of outstanding teachers.
Beyond basic and secondary education, Osigbo noted that Nigerian universities also face similar challenges, with overcrowded lecture halls, poor infrastructure, and low lecturer remuneration affecting academic productivity.
He urged the government to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action to prioritize teachers’ welfare and the education sector at large for, as experts often say, no nation can rise above the quality of its teachers and education system.
