The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has called on the Federal and state governments to urgently introduce a Special Teachers’ Salary Structure (STSS) to improve teachers’ welfare and make the profession more attractive to young graduates.
ASUSS National President, Mr Sola Adigun, made the call on Monday, October 5, in Abuja during the union’s first joint national celebration of World Teachers’ Day, held alongside its 3rd Annual National Workshop. The event was themed “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping our Futures,” while the workshop focused on “The Impact of Ethics and Attitudinal Change in Managerial Leadership.”
Adigun said the proposed salary structure should reward experience, qualifications and professional competence while providing meaningful career progression. He also called for incentives, professional development opportunities and rural posting allowances to attract and retain qualified teachers, as well as unconditional implementation of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, across all 36 states.
The ASUSS president further demanded improved learning environments, including modern classrooms, functional ICT laboratories, electricity, safe water and well-stocked libraries in both urban and rural schools. He urged governments to consult teachers during policy formulation, respect court rulings on union representation, and support continuous training, digital skills and ethical leadership.
Adigun said annual celebrations and commendations were no longer enough, stressing that teachers needed concrete action to address the challenges facing the profession.
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