Buhari regrets poor treatment of Nigerian teachers

President Muhammadu Buhari has regretted as “grave and unfortunate” that the country’s teachers are often treated unfairly despite their essential services.

On the occasion of this year’s World Teachers’ Day, he said he is aware that in some states and local councils of the federation, teachers are being owed salaries of several months. 

“It was specifically to mitigate the situation of unpaid teachers and pensioners that his administration doled out billions of naira as bailout funds to various states. Sadly, the issue of unpaid salaries remains,” a statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), in Abuja on Friday night said. 

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The president expressed his great appreciation to all Nigeria’s teachers, “the usually unsung heroes of our country whose skill and commitment daily mould the minds of our country’s youth, our leaders of today and tomorrow.”

The stated further quoted him as saying: “Teachers are the most important segment of workers in our country, invaluable for the essential work they do towards building our country’s future. Teaching is a noble profession, wielding a strong influence by inspiring and educating our children. The values they inculcate stay with them for a lifetime.”

While highlighting some of the measures put in place by his administration to improve education and better the welfare of teachers, the 

President assured Nigeria’s teachers that his heart is with them in this regard, and he will continue to work with the state governments to ensure that all salary arrears are not just cleared, but that unpaid salaries become an issue of the past.