President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers into the Federal Civil Service as part of efforts to address the shortage of teachers in Federal Unity Colleges and improve the quality of education across federal secondary schools.
The approval was announced on Thursday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Boriowo Folasade.
According to the minister, the recruitment exercise is one of the Tinubu administration’s most significant interventions in the education sector and is aimed at strengthening the teaching workforce while recognising the long-standing contributions of thousands of PTA teachers who have sustained learning in federal schools for many years.
Alausa explained that priority would be given to verified PTA teachers, many of whom have taught in Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges for nearly 25 years without being absorbed into the federal public service.
“This is a President who cares deeply for Nigeria and for the future of our country,” Alausa said. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the recruitment of teachers into the Federal Civil Service. 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 the approval followed a comprehensive verification exercise conducted by an inter-ministerial committee set up to screen eligible PTA teachers across Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
He disclosed that the committee verified 3,252 teachers across the cadres of Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers, and Technical Instructors, thereby paving the way for their regularisation once all statutory requirements are completed.
Alausa described the development as a major milestone under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the recruitment would significantly improve the teacher-student ratio in Federal Unity Colleges while rewarding teachers who had remained committed to the education system despite years of uncertainty.
According to him, integrating experienced PTA teachers into the federal public service would preserve institutional knowledge, strengthen classroom instruction, and improve learning outcomes across federal colleges.
“The recruitment forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to improve teacher quality and reposition Federal Unity Colleges as centres of academic excellence,” the minister said.
He added that the Ministry of Education would continue to work closely with the Federal Civil Service Commission and other relevant agencies to complete the remaining statutory processes required for the issuance of final appointment letters in line with public service regulations.
Alausa thanked President Tinubu for approving the exercise, describing the decision as evidence of the administration’s commitment to placing education at the centre of national development.
“Investing in teachers is fundamental to building a stronger education system because no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers,” he stated.
The minister assured all verified PTA teachers that the regularisation process would be concluded with transparency, fairness, and due diligence, adding that the ministry remained committed to implementing policies that strengthen the teaching profession, improve learning outcomes, and ensure that students in Federal Unity Colleges receive quality education from competent and dedicated teachers.
Federal Unity Colleges have for many years relied heavily on PTA teachers engaged and paid by Parent-Teacher Associations to bridge staffing gaps arising from inadequate recruitment into the federal teaching service.
Many of the affected teachers have worked in the colleges for between 10 and 25 years without permanent appointments, despite performing the same classroom duties as government-employed teachers.
Successive administrations received repeated appeals from PTA teachers, education stakeholders, and parents urging the Federal Government to regularise their appointments, arguing that prolonged dependence on PTA-funded teachers imposed a heavy financial burden on parents and created job insecurity for thousands of qualified educators.
Education analysts have long warned that inadequate staffing in Federal Unity Colleges could undermine teaching quality, increase classroom congestion, and weaken academic performance if not addressed through sustained recruitment.
The latest approval is therefore being viewed as a major policy shift that could reduce the reliance on PTA-funded personnel and provide greater stability in the management of federal secondary schools.
Stakeholders in the education sector have welcomed the development, saying the absorption of experienced PTA teachers would not only improve morale among teachers but also enhance continuity in teaching and learning.
Observers also note that many of the verified teachers possess years of classroom experience and are already familiar with the curriculum, administrative structure, and academic culture of Federal Unity Colleges, making their transition into the federal service relatively seamless.
The Federal Government has in recent months introduced several education reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including interventions in teacher development, technical education, student financing, school infrastructure, and digital learning.
Alausa said the recruitment of the 3,252 verified PTA teachers forms part of that broader reform agenda aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s education system to meet national development goals and global standards.
He reiterated that the ministry would continue to pursue policies that support teachers, improve educational standards, and expand access to quality learning opportunities for Nigerian students.
The minister expressed confidence that the recruitment exercise would strengthen federal colleges across the country and contribute to building a more effective, equitable, and sustainable education system for future generations.
