The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Delta State Wing, has called on the state government to address teacher shortages, insecurity and inadequate learning materials in public schools.
The NUT made the demands during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration at the Cenotaph Ground in Asaba. The union said better salaries and career progression would have limited impact if teachers continued to work without enough staff, security and teaching resources.
NUT seeks more teachers for Delta schools
The NUT State Chairman, Dickson Poubeni, said public schools across Delta State needed more teachers to address staffing gaps.
Poubeni said shortages affected both primary and secondary schools. He urged the government to increase recruitment and ensure schools have enough teachers to meet the needs of students.
He also acknowledged the state government’s approval of Grade Level 17 career progression for eligible university graduate teachers in public primary schools. According to him, the decision addressed the long-standing stagnation of graduate primary school teachers at Grade Level 14.
The union said the career progression represented progress for affected teachers. However, Poubeni maintained that other workplace challenges still required urgent attention.
The call for better staffing comes as education authorities across the country continue to face pressure over teacher shortages. The issue is particularly important in public schools, where overcrowded classrooms can increase the workload on available teachers.
Delta’s concerns also mirror wider discussions about education and skills development in Nigeria. In Enugu, for instance, an emerging agro-mechanisation project is expected to create opportunities for young people, showing the wider link between education, skills and employment.
Teachers demand safer school environments
The NUT also raised concerns about security in public schools.
Poubeni called for stronger security measures, including adequate perimeter fencing and the deployment of security personnel to schools. He said teachers and pupils needed safer environments to support effective teaching and learning.
The union also raised concerns about the shortage of instructional materials. According to Poubeni, inadequate teaching resources could make it difficult for teachers to deliver lessons effectively.
The concerns come amid broader security challenges affecting schools in different parts of Nigeria. Recent incidents have also highlighted the vulnerability of students and young people travelling across the country.
For example, troops recently rescued 23 kidnapped victims in Sokoto during separate security operations. Such incidents continue to fuel calls for stronger protection of schools, students and other vulnerable groups.
Poubeni also urged the government to address the non-replacement of retired secondary school principals who had moved into permanent secretary positions.
He further raised concerns about the ongoing screening of teachers and called for greater involvement of the NUT in the governing councils of state-owned educational institutions.
Union seeks better support for school heads
The teachers’ union also highlighted inadequate subvention for school heads.
Poubeni said limited funding affected the ability of school administrators to respond to basic needs. He urged the government to increase support available to schools so administrators can provide better learning conditions.
The NUT chairman said improving teachers’ welfare should therefore go beyond salaries. He called for a broader approach covering staffing, security, instructional materials, training and administrative support.
The union’s position was presented as part of its assessment of the working conditions of teachers in Delta State. It also called for continued engagement between the government and education stakeholders.
The need for stronger institutional support has featured in other sectors across the country. In Enugu, the Community and Social Development Agency recently carried out a sensitisation and Participatory Rural Appraisal exercise to identify community development priorities.
Oborevwori responds to teachers’ demands
Responding to the concerns, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said his administration was working to improve teachers’ welfare, training and working conditions.
The governor was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Technical Education, Smart Ijeoma Ufoh. He reiterated the government’s approval of Grade Level 17 career progression for qualified graduate teachers in public primary schools.
Oborevwori also announced that the state had approved a 13th-month salary for public servants, including teachers. He said legislation was being pursued to make the payment a statutory entitlement.
The governor stressed that teacher support should not focus solely on salaries. He said training, improved working conditions and access to teaching tools were also important to effective education.
His administration, according to him, was therefore working on several areas affecting teachers and schools. These include recruitment, professional development and improvements to school facilities.
The issue of public-sector welfare has also featured in other government programmes. President Tinubu previously said Nigerians should see lower transport fares from October 1 as the Federal Government expands its CNG transport programme.
Delta plans recruitment of more teachers
Oborevwori said the state government was recruiting additional teachers, with particular attention to science subjects.
He also said the government was investing in continuous professional training to help teachers improve their skills. The governor said the measures were part of efforts to strengthen the quality of teaching in Delta schools.
Science teachers remain important to efforts to improve students’ performance in technical and scientific subjects. Additional recruitment could also help address staffing gaps in schools where existing teachers face high workloads.
The governor said the state was also working with the Universal Basic Education Commission and the State Universal Basic Education Board to improve school infrastructure.
According to him, the collaboration would focus on improving school facilities and creating better learning environments for pupils. The government said its broader objective was to provide better support for teachers while improving opportunities for children.
Delta’s education plans come against the backdrop of wider discussions around skills development across Nigeria. In Enugu, the government has highlighted infrastructure and development projects as part of its broader economic agenda.
Governor urges stakeholders to support teachers
Oborevwori commended teachers across Delta State for their commitment and sacrifices.
He said the government recognised the importance of teachers and the role they play in shaping children’s futures. He also urged teachers to maintain the dignity and standards of the profession.
The governor called on parents, communities and other stakeholders to support teachers and contribute to the development of education.
He described education as a shared responsibility requiring cooperation between government, teachers, families and communities. He said improving learning outcomes would require the participation of all stakeholders.
The 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration provided a platform for the NUT to present its concerns while the state government outlined some of its education policies.
The event also highlighted the importance of teacher welfare beyond salary payments. Staffing levels, security, professional training, teaching materials and school funding remain key issues raised by the union.
World Teachers’ Day 2026
The 2026 World Teachers’ Day theme is “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing Its Status and Shaping Our Future.”
The theme focuses attention on the role of teachers and the need to strengthen the profession. It also provides an opportunity for governments and education stakeholders to review the conditions under which teachers work.
The Delta NUT used the occasion to recognise the progress made on career progression while highlighting areas that still require government action.
The union’s demands include more teachers in primary and secondary schools, improved school security and adequate instructional materials. It also wants better funding for school heads and representation on governing councils of state-owned educational institutions.
The state government, meanwhile, said it was already taking steps to improve teachers’ welfare and strengthen schools. These include additional recruitment, professional training, infrastructure improvements and the approved 13th-month salary.
The government also said its collaboration with education agencies would help improve learning environments across Delta State.
The discussion at the World Teachers’ Day event therefore centred on both teacher welfare and the wider conditions required for effective education. While the NUT called for further action, the state government outlined measures it said were already underway.
