Teachers in Cross River State, Nigeria, have called on the government to improve their welfare and working conditions to enhance productivity and quality education. Read the full report on their demands, challenges, and the government’s response.
Keywords:
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Introduction
Teachers in Cross River State, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), have renewed their call for better welfare, improved remuneration, and conducive working conditions to enhance productivity and boost the overall quality of education in the state.
This demand, recently highlighted in a Punch Newspaper report titled “Cross River Teachers Demand Better Welfare to Boost Productivity,” reflects the growing frustration among educators who feel neglected despite their vital role in shaping Nigeria’s future.
Teachers’ Plight in Cross River State
For years, teachers in Cross River have battled with poor welfare, unpaid allowances, and delayed salaries. Many schools across the state, especially in rural areas, lack basic facilities such as chairs, laboratories, libraries, and even classrooms fit for learning.
According to the NUT, the teaching profession in Cross River State has reached a critical point where welfare improvement is no longer negotiable but essential for survival and sustainable educational development.
What Teachers Are Demanding
The teachers’ union listed several areas that need urgent government intervention. These include:
Improved Welfare Packages
Teachers are demanding reviewed salary structures, special allowances, and prompt payment of benefits to help them cope with the rising cost of living.
Many teachers lament that they are still being paid old salary scales despite years of service and promotions.
Regular Payment of Salaries and Arrears
There have been frequent complaints about delayed payments, especially for primary school teachers under local government payrolls. The teachers emphasized that a hungry teacher cannot perform optimally, and salary delays reduce morale.
Recruitment of More Teachers
Cross River reportedly needs over 10,000 teachers to fill existing gaps in both primary and secondary schools. Many schools are severely understaffed, leading to overcrowded classrooms and excessive workloads on existing teachers.
Better School Infrastructure
Teachers called on the state government to renovate dilapidated classrooms, provide teaching materials, and ensure electricity and water supply to enhance the teaching and learning environment.
Training and Professional Development
To keep up with modern teaching standards, teachers also requested regular workshops, ICT training, and professional development programs to help them become more effective educators.
The Government’s Response
The Cross River State Government, through the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Stephen Odey, acknowledged the teachers’ concerns and assured them that steps were being taken to revive the education sector.
Prof. Odey stated that the government was working to:
- Increase education budget allocation from 15% to 26% in line with UNESCO standards.
- Establish a Teachers’ Welfare Fund to provide consistent support for educators.
- Conduct fresh recruitment of qualified teachers to fill critical shortages in rural areas.
- Audit and regularize salary payments to end irregularities and backlog issues.
He emphasized that teachers are the foundation of national development, and their welfare remains a top priority under the current administration.
Why Teacher Welfare Matters for Productivity
Education experts agree that teacher welfare and productivity are directly linked. When teachers are well-motivated and cared for, their performance improves significantly.
🔹 Motivation and Morale
A well-treated teacher is a happy teacher. Motivation leads to better classroom engagement, improved teaching methods, and higher student performance.
🔹 Retention of Skilled Teachers
Without good welfare, many teachers leave public schools for private institutions or entirely different careers. Competitive remuneration helps retain experienced educators.
🔹 Quality Education Delivery
When teachers have access to training, materials, and incentives, they can deliver higher quality lessons and help students achieve better academic results.
🔹 National Development
A strong education system produces skilled, disciplined, and creative citizens. Investing in teachers is, therefore, investing in the future of Nigeria.
Challenges Affecting Teacher Welfare in Cross River
Despite government promises, several obstacles hinder the improvement of teacher welfare in the state:
- Inadequate Funding: Education funding is below the recommended 26% benchmark.
- Delayed Salary Structures: Payment bottlenecks between the state and local governments.
- Inflation and Rising Living Costs: The real value of salaries has dropped drastically.
- Policy Implementation Gaps: Existing policies on welfare and promotion are not effectively enforced.
- Infrastructure Decay: Many public schools remain in poor physical condition.
The Role of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)
The NUT in Cross River has remained vocal about teachers’ challenges. The union continues to engage with the state government to ensure:
- Implementation of teacher-friendly policies.
- Improved funding for education.
- Regular payment of entitlements and allowances.
- Respect for teachers’ dignity and rights.
The union’s leaders have made it clear that teachers’ welfare must not be treated as a favor but a fundamental right.
The Bigger Picture: Education Reform in Nigeria
The Cross River teachers’ protest mirrors a nationwide crisis in Nigeria’s education system. Across several states, teachers face similar problems — low pay, delayed promotions, poor facilities, and minimal motivation.
Experts say that education reform must start with teachers. Without adequately trained, well-paid, and motivated educators, no curriculum reform or infrastructure investment can yield lasting impact.
Recommendations
To address these challenges, education stakeholders recommend the following:
- Increase budgetary allocation to education to meet UNESCO’s 26% recommendation.
- Create a Teachers’ Welfare Trust Fund to ensure prompt and guaranteed benefits.
- Recruit and train more teachers to fill current gaps.
- Provide housing and transport allowances for teachers in rural areas.
- Ensure transparent salary payment systems free from local government interference.
- Introduce performance-based incentives to reward excellence in teaching.
Conclusion
The call by Cross River teachers for better welfare and improved productivity is both timely and justified. Teachers are the backbone of any educational system, and their well-being directly influences the quality of education students receive.
For Nigeria to achieve sustainable growth and human capital development, teacher welfare must become a national priority.
The Cross River State Government has an opportunity to lead by example — by fulfilling promises, implementing reforms, and restoring dignity to the teaching profession.
