N30,000 Salary: Teachers in Federal Unity Colleges decry years of exploitation

Thousands of PTA part-time teachers in Federal Unity Colleges have cried out over alleged government neglect, citing stagnant salaries as low as ₦30,000 and the failure to regularize their employment after decades of service.

Over 3,500 Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) part-time teachers serving in Federal Unity Colleges across Nigeria have accused the Federal Government of abandonment and exploitation. The teachers, many of whom have served for 10 to 20 years, lamented that they have been left in a state of perpetual uncertainty despite numerous verification exercises and official promises of regularization. Evidence provided to the media, including bank credit alerts, reveals that many of these educators still receive monthly salaries as low as ₦30,000—a figure significantly below the national minimum wage and insufficient to cope with the country’s current economic realities.

The affected staff expressed deep frustration over being treated as temporary workers despite dedicating their most productive years to government-owned secondary schools. One teacher, speaking on the condition of anonymity, highlighted the emotional and financial toll of the situation, stating, “Many of us have dedicated our productive years to these schools. Some teachers have spent over 10 to 20 years teaching in Federal Unity Colleges, yet we are still treated like temporary staff without stability or proper recognition.” This lack of job security has left thousands of households struggling to survive on earnings that range strictly between ₦30,000 and ₦70,000.

Despite several high-level meetings and repeated assurances from the Ministry of Education, the teachers claim that their welfare remains neglected while they continue to carry a significant portion of the academic workload in the colleges. The aggrieved educators are now calling on the Federal Government to fulfill its previous commitments by regularizing their employment status and providing a living wage. They emphasized that the current situation is no longer sustainable, as the combination of poor pay and lack of benefits has made it nearly impossible to maintain a basic standard of living.

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