President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers into the Federal Civil Service, ending years of uncertainty for thousands of educators who have kept classrooms running in Federal Unity Colleges.
The approval is expected to strengthen the teaching workforce in federal secondary schools while addressing the long-standing shortage of qualified teachers across the country’s unity colleges and technical institutions.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the development in a statement issued on Thursday through his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.
According to the minister, the exercise will prioritise verified PTA teachers, many of whom have spent decades teaching in Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges without permanent appointments.
He described the presidential approval as one of the most significant interventions by the current administration in the education sector, saying it acknowledges the dedication and sacrifices of PTA teachers who have sustained learning despite years of employment uncertainty.
“This is a president who cares deeply for Nigeria and for the future of our country.
“The president has approved the recruitment of teachers. Priority will be given to absorbing verified PTA teachers, many of whom have served in our Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges for almost 25 years. This approval provides them with the opportunity to become part of the mainstream public service,” the minister said.
Alausa explained that the approval followed an extensive verification exercise conducted by an inter-ministerial committee established to authenticate the records of PTA teachers serving in Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
According to him, the exercise successfully verified “3,252 teachers across the cadres of Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers and Technical Instructors, paving the way for their regularisation upon completion of all statutory requirements.”
The minister said the initiative represents another milestone under the Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that it would significantly improve the teacher-to-student ratio in federal colleges while rewarding educators who had remained committed despite years of temporary employment.
He noted that bringing experienced PTA teachers into the federal workforce would preserve valuable institutional experience, strengthen classroom teaching and improve educational outcomes.
“The recruitment forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to improve teacher quality and reposition the colleges as centres of academic excellence,” he said.
Alausa disclosed that the Ministry of Education would continue working with the relevant government agencies to complete the remaining statutory procedures required before the final letters of appointment are issued in line with public service regulations.
He commended President Tinubu for approving the recruitment, describing the decision as further proof of the administration’s commitment to making education a national priority.
“Investing in teachers is fundamental to building a stronger education system, as no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers,” he said.
The minister assured all verified PTA teachers that the regularisation exercise would be handled transparently, fairly and in accordance with due process.
He also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to implementing reforms that strengthen the teaching profession, enhance learning standards and ensure students in Federal Unity Colleges receive quality education from competent and committed educators.
For many years, Federal Unity Colleges have depended heavily on PTA-employed teachers to bridge staffing shortages caused by inadequate recruitment into the federal teaching service. Although these teachers have performed the same classroom duties as permanently employed staff, many have remained on temporary appointments for between 10 and 25 years.
Successive administrations faced repeated appeals from the affected teachers and education stakeholders to absorb them into the civil service, arguing that the prolonged dependence on PTA-funded personnel imposed additional financial burdens on parents while leaving thousands of qualified teachers without job security.
(Ripples)