Acute shortage of teachers to cater for the growing number of students and pupils in Akwa Ibom State secondary and primary schools has disquieted Nigeria Union of Teachers.
In a solidarity letter dated 11th September, 2025 to the Chairperson, Nigeria Labour Congress, Akwa Ibom Council, Comrade Sunny James, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Akwa Ibom State Wing expressed deep concern over the austere number of teachers to cater for the number of students and pupils in different schools.
In the letter entitled: Before the darkness falls, Comrade Sam Umo-Inyang, the State Secretary of NUT identified with NLC in its corporate effort to fight for the right, welfare and privileges of Akwa Ibom Workers including the case of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASSAN).
You may also read:
- Why we cannot call off the strike- Akwa Ibom NUT Chairman
- Akwa Ibom Public Primary, Secondary Schools Commence Indefinite strike- NUT
- Akwa Ibom NUT Boss Berates Govts’ Attitude To Public Education
NUT recalled that in the year 2020, 7,527 vacancies were available in the State Secondary schools, 400 teachers were needed to fill existing vacancies in Technical schools while 15,929 vacancies were available in the Primary school sub-sector, noting ‘‘In summary 23,856 teachers were needed to fill existing vacancies in schools as at that year.
‘‘Today, the figure is bound to increase because of voluntary retirements. We have also gathered from our 31 branches that 274 teachers passed on between 2020 and April 2025, thereby creating additional vacancies.’’
The union lamented that Community Primary School, Ikot Ukwa in Mkpat Enin with pupils population of 1130 has only three teachers to teach primary 1-6 same is applicable to St. Paul Catholic School Minya/Ikot Udo. In the whole of Mkpat Enin LGA, no Primary school has more than 8 teachers.
‘‘In Lutheran School, Itak Ikot Akap in Ikono LGA with pupil population of 1,276, only three teachers are available to teach primary 1-6.
‘‘PCN School, Mbiabet Ikpe with pupils population of 1,862 has only 4 teachers to teach primary 1-6,’’ it announced.
The union kicked against planned recruitment of 1,000 teachers approved for the post primary school sub-sector, observing that whereas 7,927 vacancies declared as far back as year 2020 is like a drop of water in the ocean.
According to NUT, ‘‘Meanwhile, nothing is said about the case of primary schools where there is very little or no learning due lack of teachers. There is no way any responsible and responsive government like ours can run away from recruitment of enough qualified teachers to teach in schools as teachers are the first line service providers in the Education system. In the neighbouring State of Abia, a total of 5,393 teachers were recently recruited to boost the teaching force.’’
NUT letter came on the eve of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and Joint Council Public Service (JCPS) backing out of the suspended industrial action by NLC to press home for the payment of 32 per cent pension arrears to retirees in the state with effect from November 2024 as agreed by Governor Umo Eno.
The union opposed what it calls ‘‘anti-labour activity’’ and a clear act of betrayal for any labour leader who was a party to collective decisions of the congress to dissociate from same decisions within 24 hours, querying ‘‘What legacy are we leaving for the younger generation?’’
‘‘As Union Leaders, we are responsible to our members and cannot be happy when their welfare is not given due attention. This burden is more on your head as the leader of our labour centre and fulcrum of hope for workers in the state.
‘‘The development is worrisome given the fact that no labour leader or Union can face the enormous power of government anywhere in the world,’’ NUT decried.
