Caption: Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran (far left), addressing Teachers today while the NUT Chairman, Mr. Raji Oladimeji, CCII President-General, Chief Ajewole Ajeniyi and others listen with rapt attention, during today's celebration of World Teachers' Day.
Olusegun Adeyemo
Teachers across Oyo State on Saturday celebrated this year’s World Teachers’ Day with mixed feelings — expressing gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for his consistent support of the education sector while also highlighting persistent challenges that continue to affect effective teaching and learning in the state.
At a colourful ceremony in Ibadan, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State wing, Comrade Raji Oladimeji Ismail, commended the Makinde administration for its prompt payment of teachers’ salaries, recruitment of new staff, and promotion of primary school teachers to Grade Level 16. He also lauded the appointment of a teacher as the Executive Chairperson of the Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
Raji credited these achievements to the governor’s “magnanimity and genuine interest in education,” adding that the government’s actions have brought a sense of pride and motivation to teachers across the state.
He praised the administration for ending the six-year delay in teachers’ promotions and for creating 10 TESCOM zonal offices, where qualified teachers were appointed as Permanent Secretaries and Tutor-Generals — a move he said has “restored confidence in career advancement within the service.”
The union leader, however, noted that despite these achievements, teachers in the state still grapple with major challenges such as inadequate funding for education, infrastructural deficits in public schools, and limited opportunities for continuous professional development.
“On a very special note,” Raji said, “I wish to present a few requests of teachers for the prompt attention of the Oyo State Government — particularly the need to expedite action on approving the long-standing request for inter-zonal transfer and the release of running grants to school heads to enhance the smooth running of schools.”
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, announced that the Civil Service Commission had approved promotion letters for 2023/2024 primary school teachers and that the letters were being processed for release.
Dr. Adeniran also confirmed that the issue of inter-zonal transfer for teachers recruited in 2005 had been approved by the governor, while efforts were underway to compile the final list for implementation.
He disclosed that Governor Makinde had also approved the integration of remaining teachers on secondment into the TESCOM employment grid, ensuring no teacher was left behind in the ongoing reforms.
“The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, under my supervision, has been working with NUT, AOPSHON, and other education stakeholders to ensure that teachers’ welfare remains secure,” he said.
Adeniran, however, urged teachers to adhere to proper administrative procedures when addressing grievances, warning against taking internal matters to social media.
“If you have complaints or enquiries, there are appropriate channels to follow — not through the public space,” he cautioned.
The National President of the NUT, Comrade Audi Titus Amba, represented by Comrade Shaibu Olayinka Yisa, also commended Governor Makinde’s leadership and commitment to improving the teaching profession. He said this year’s theme, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” underscores the need for unity among education stakeholders to build a resilient system.
The event, chaired by the Osi Olubadan-designate, HRM Oba Abiodun Kola Daisi, was attended by several dignitaries, including the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kayode Martins; Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Segun Abatan; and other prominent figures in the education sector.
As the celebration drew to a close, the tone of the gathering reflected both appreciation and advocacy — a collective acknowledgment that while progress has been made under Governor Makinde, more work lies ahead to strengthen Oyo’s education system for teachers and learners alike.