World Teachers’ Day: Ogun Residents Demand Better Pay, Equipped Schools for Teachers

World Teachers’ Day: Ogun Residents Demand Better Pay, Equipped Schools for Teachers

 

As Nigeria marked the 2026 World Teachers’ Day, residents of Ogun State have called on the government to improve teachers’ welfare, increase remuneration and provide adequate facilities in public schools, insisting that celebrating educators must translate into tangible improvements in their working conditions.

The demand was made by callers on Eagle 102.5 FM’s Frontline programme on Monday, October 5, during a discussion on teachers’ welfare and their contributions to education and community development. The programme featured the Chairman of the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Apostle Abiodun Sanyaolu.

Contributors stressed that teachers remain central to the development of children and the nation’s human capital, arguing that their responsibilities deserve better financial rewards, improved working conditions and a more conducive teaching and learning environment.

A caller from Ilese-Ijebu described teachers as the foundation of society, noting that their influence extends beyond the classroom to shaping children’s character, knowledge and future prospects.

Describing teachers as “the pillar of everything in life,” the caller urged the government to prioritise their welfare, arguing that educators must be adequately supported to deliver on their responsibilities.

“The welfare of the teachers is very, very important. The government should look at it and make sure that teachers are given a good welfare system so that they will be proud of doing what they are doing,” she said.

She also called for increased investment in school facilities, warning that constructing classrooms without providing the necessary equipment and learning materials would leave schools ill-equipped to deliver quality education.

“It’s not just only the structure alone. They should put in the necessary things that are supposed to be in the school,” she added.

The caller’s remarks highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to educational development, encompassing not only physical infrastructure but also the resources required by teachers and students for effective teaching and learning.

Another contributor, Olu Ogunike, called for better remuneration for teachers, arguing that their salaries and conditions of service should reflect the critical role they play in national development.

“Teaching should be one of the well-paying work in the country,” Ogunike said, stressing that teachers lay the foundation for virtually every other profession.

He argued that the quality of a country’s workforce depended significantly on the quality of its teachers, adding that improved financial rewards would help enhance the status and attractiveness of the profession.

The contributions reflected growing public expectations that governments should match their recognition of teachers with practical measures to improve their welfare and the quality of education.

Speaking on the programme, TESCOM Chairman Sanyaolu described teachers as important stakeholders in community development, noting that their influence extends beyond academic instruction to shaping the moral, social and intellectual development of children.

According to him, every child taught by an educator eventually becomes part of the wider community, making teachers indispensable to the social and economic advancement of Ogun State.

Sanyaolu acknowledged, however, that more work remained to be done in the state’s education sector, despite the reforms and interventions introduced by the government.

“We still have a lot to do. There is a lot that is still ongoing, and we will continue to work to ensure that the gains recorded in the education sector are sustained,” he said.

His remarks underscored the continuing challenge of consolidating improvements in education while addressing concerns about teachers’ welfare, school infrastructure and the resources available for effective learning.

The callers’ demands also highlighted the connection between teachers’ working conditions and students’ educational outcomes.

They argued that better remuneration could boost teachers’ morale, while well-equipped classrooms, adequate learning materials and modern teaching resources would strengthen their ability to deliver quality education.

Similarly, improved welfare could help make teaching more attractive to qualified professionals and encourage greater commitment to the profession, particularly at a time when schools require skilled and motivated educators to prepare young people for the demands of a changing economy.

The 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration therefore provided an opportunity to reflect on both the contributions of educators and the challenges confronting the profession.

For the contributors on Eagle 102.5 FM’s Frontline programme, the message was clear: public recognition of teachers must go beyond annual celebrations to include improved pay, better welfare packages, adequate school facilities and sustained investment in professional development.

They maintained that supporting teachers was not merely a reward for their service but also a necessary investment in the future of Ogun State and the country at large.