The Cross River NUT has urged the state government to boost education funding and teachers’ welfare.
Chairman Gregory Olayi called for 26% budget allocation and promotions to motivate educators statewide.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Cross River State has called on the state government to increase funding for education and improve teachers’ welfare to enhance productivity across schools.
Speaking during the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration at the U.J. Esuene Sports Stadium in Calabar on Sunday, the state NUT chairman, Comrade Gregory Olayi, urged the government to raise education funding from the current 15 per cent to 26 per cent of the state’s annual budget.
Olayi said better funding and improved welfare packages would boost the morale of teachers and improve performance in classrooms. He also appealed for the promotion of qualified teachers to Grade Level 17 and their appointment as permanent secretaries, similar to what is being implemented in neighboring states such as Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers.
He noted that the state’s education system is facing a shortage of teachers due to the transfer of about 200 teachers from secondary schools and 100 from primary schools to other sectors. He urged the government to recruit more teachers and ensure prompt payment of salaries, especially for primary school teachers.
“Meeting teachers’ demands will not only motivate them but also strengthen the entire education system,” Olayi said. “We need timely release of the education budget, more teacher employment, and improved welfare to address the current challenges.”
Responding on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Stephen Odey, assured the teachers that the government is committed to improving their welfare and making the profession more attractive.
Odey disclosed that the state government is establishing an education trust fund to provide financial support for teachers and improve school infrastructure. He added that plans are underway for a comprehensive reform at the Secondary Education Board that would benefit teachers directly.
“We are implementing a radical transformation at the Secondary Education Board to favor those in the teaching profession,” he said.
The event brought together education stakeholders, teachers, and government representatives, all emphasizing the need for stronger investment and renewed commitment to revitalizing the state’s education sector.
