President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the permanent absorption of 3,252 long-serving Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers into the federal civil service, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education sector and improving the welfare of educators in federal institutions.
The decision marks a significant policy shift for thousands of teachers who have worked for years under temporary arrangements in federal schools across the country. Many of the affected educators have reportedly served for as long as 20 to 25 years without formal employment status, despite playing critical roles in sustaining teaching and learning in Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges.
According to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the approval will see the teachers formally integrated into the federal workforce under various professional cadres, including Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers, and Technical Instructors. He explained that the deployment will cut across Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges nationwide.
Dr. Alausa described the development as a landmark intervention that acknowledges the dedication, resilience, and long years of service rendered by the teachers under the PTA arrangement. He noted that the move is not only a reward for loyalty but also a strategic effort to improve the quality and stability of teaching staff in federal schools.
Education stakeholders have long argued that PTA teachers form a backbone of staffing in many federal institutions, often filling critical gaps caused by shortages of officially recruited personnel. The new policy is expected to provide them with job security, improved remuneration, and access to full civil service benefits.
The federal government said the integration aligns with broader reforms in the education sector aimed at enhancing teacher motivation, reducing staffing deficits, and improving learning outcomes for students in federal schools.
With the approval now in place, the affected teachers are expected to undergo formal documentation and placement processes in the coming weeks as they transition into permanent federal employment.
