The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of worsening the welfare and working conditions of Nigerian teachers.
The council made the allegation in a statement issued on Monday, October 5, to mark the 2026 World Teachers’ Day. The statement, signed by the ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, said teachers were facing rising living costs, inadequate salaries and poor welfare despite their role in national development.
The ADC described teachers as “true heroes” who continue to educate children despite what it characterised as neglect and hardship. Ologbondiyan argued that the economic situation had made it increasingly difficult for teachers to meet basic household needs.
“How can a teacher teach effectively on an empty stomach?” he asked, citing high transportation costs, inadequate salaries, limited healthcare support and difficulties with housing as some of the challenges confronting educators.
The campaign council attributed the difficulties to factors including the removal of the petrol subsidy without sufficient cushioning measures, poor or irregular salaries, inadequate professional training and deteriorating school infrastructure. It also alleged that the APC administration had devalued the teaching profession.
The ADC said an administration led by its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would prioritise teachers’ welfare through improved remuneration, allowances, health insurance, affordable housing, professional development and better teaching facilities. These are campaign promises made by the opposition party rather than current government policy.
The comments came as Nigeria marked World Teachers’ Day, with teachers’ unions and other stakeholders also calling for improved welfare and working conditions. The Nigeria Union of Teachers, for instance, raised concerns over the non-implementation of a special salary scale approved for teachers, while calling for better working environments and career development.
The issue is significant because teacher welfare directly affects recruitment, retention and the quality of education available to Nigerian children. The National Human Rights Commission also called for increased investment in teachers, schools and learning facilities.
World Teachers’ Day is observed annually on October 5 to recognise educators and draw attention to challenges affecting the teaching profession. The latest debate places teachers’ welfare among the issues likely to feature prominently in Nigeria’s political discussions ahead of the 2027 elections.
