Tinubu Greenlights Mainstream Jobs for Over 3,000 PTA Educators

President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for the integration of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers into the Federal Civil Service. This initiative aims to tackle the persistent scarcity of teaching staff in Federal Unity Colleges and enhance the overall standard of education across the nation.

Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, conveyed this development in a statement released on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah. The Minister indicated that verified PTA teachers would be given priority in this recruitment drive. Many of these educators have dedicated up to 25 years of service to Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges, and this approval will now enable them to join the regular public service.

Alausa hailed the President's approval as a significant move by the Tinubu administration, describing it as one of the most impactful efforts to strengthen the teaching profession. He also acknowledged the vital contributions of thousands of PTA teachers who have been instrumental in sustaining learning in federal institutions over the years. “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 stated.

He further explained that this recruitment follows a thorough verification exercise carried out by an inter-ministerial committee, which assessed eligible PTA teachers across various Federal Unity Colleges. This exercise, he noted, confirmed “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.”

Describing this as a landmark achievement under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Alausa affirmed that the recruitment would improve the teacher-student ratio in Federal Unity Colleges. It would also serve as a reward for teachers who have remained steadfast despite years of uncertainty regarding their employment status. According to Alausa, incorporating experienced PTA teachers into the federal public service will help preserve institutional knowledge, bolster classroom instruction, and improve learning outcomes throughout these colleges. “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 added.

The Education Minister assured that his ministry would collaborate with relevant government bodies to finalize the remaining statutory processes required for the official recruitment approval, in line with public service regulations. He extended gratitude to President Tinubu for sanctioning the exercise, emphasizing that this decision underscores the administration’s commitment to prioritizing education in national development. “Investing in teachers is fundamental to building a stronger education system, as no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers,” he remarked.

Alausa guaranteed all verified PTA teachers that the regularization process would be conducted with transparency, fairness, and due diligence. He also reiterated the ministry's dedication to implementing policies that strengthen the teaching profession, enhance learning outcomes, and ensure that students in Federal Unity Colleges receive high-quality education from competent and devoted teachers.

For many years, Federal Unity Colleges have relied on PTA teachers, engaged and remunerated by Parent-Teacher Associations, to bridge chronic staffing shortages resulting from insufficient recruitment into the federal teaching service. Numerous teachers have worked in these colleges for periods ranging from 10 to 25 years without securing permanent appointments, despite fulfilling the same classroom duties as regular government-employed teachers. Previous administrations had received numerous appeals from affected teachers and education stakeholders to formalize these appointments, highlighting that the prolonged dependence on PTA-funded staff imposed financial burdens on parents and created job insecurity for thousands of qualified educators.