Kano, Zamfara, 15 Other States Fail to Recruit Teachers in 5 Years Amidst Shortage

Data obtained exclusively by our correspondent from the National Union of Teachers in Abuja reveals that 18 states in Nigeria have not recruited new teachers in the past five years, exacerbating concerns over the shortage of educators nationwide.

The Universal Basic Education Commission recently highlighted the critical shortfall of teachers in public schools, where over 47 million pupils are currently enrolled across 171,027 schools. Of these, 79,775 are public schools and 91,252 are private.

According to UBEC, there are 354,651 teachers in early childhood facilities, 915,593 in primary schools, and 416,291 in junior secondary schools. However, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria has expressed deep concern about the shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in rural areas, which worsens educational disparities.

Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, Registrar of TRCN, emphasized, “The shortage of qualified teachers poses significant challenges to our education system, particularly with the increasing student population and school expansion.”

The data from NUT reveals that states like Abia, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kogi, Ogun, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, and Zamfara did not conduct any teacher recruitment between 2018 and 2022. In contrast, only the FCT, Lagos, and Katsina carried out recruitment drives during this period.

NUT President Mr. Titus Amba expressed dismay over the situation, noting, “Many governors have neglected our plea to replace retired teachers with new recruits.”

State-Specific Insights:

Bayelsa State: From 2018 to 2022, Bayelsa did not recruit teachers due to a civil service employment embargo imposed by former Governor Seriake Dickson. However, Governor Douye Diri’s administration lifted the embargo, resulting in the recent recruitment of 2,000 teachers across primary and secondary schools.

Kano State: The Kano State Government converted 5,632 voluntary teachers from the Better Education Service Delivery for All program to permanent and pensionable positions, alongside plans to recruit an additional 10,000 teachers.

Ogun State: Since assuming office in 2019, Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration has recruited 5,000 teachers across primary, secondary, and technical colleges.

Plateau State: Planning is underway to recruit new teachers following the submission of reports to local government chairmen by the State Universal Basic Education Board.

Gombe State: Contrary to NUT claims, Gombe recruited 1,000 teachers in 2022 and converted over 200 Local Education Authority teachers to state government employees.

Zamfara State: Zamfara did not recruit teachers in the last four years, inheriting the issue from the previous administration. Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration has declared a state of emergency on education, pledging imminent recruitment and promotions.

Nasarawa State: Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration has employed over 10,000 teachers for primary and secondary schools since 2019, with ongoing efforts to bolster educational staffing.

These developments underscore the ongoing challenges and sporadic efforts to address teacher shortages, emphasizing the critical need for sustained recruitment and support in the education sector across Nigeria.

This article is sourced from The PUNCH newspaper, with minor edits and adaptations by The Spectacles for clarity and readability.