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 standard of education across the country.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the approval in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.
According to the minister, the recruitment will prioritise verified PTA teachers, many of whom have spent between 10 and 25 years teaching in Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges without permanent appointments.
Alausa described the approval as a landmark decision by the Tinubu administration, saying it recognises the dedication of thousands of teachers who have kept learning uninterrupted in federal schools despite years of uncertainty.
He explained that the approval followed a comprehensive verification exercise carried out by an inter-ministerial committee, which screened PTA teachers across Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
The exercise, he said, confirmed the eligibility of 3,252 teachers in the categories of Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers and Technical Instructors, clearing the way for their absorption into the federal public service after the completion of all necessary statutory procedures.
The minister said the recruitment aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda and is expected to improve the teacher-to-student ratio in Federal Unity Colleges while rewarding experienced educators for their years of service.
He added that bringing the teachers into the federal workforce would preserve institutional knowledge, strengthen classroom teaching and enhance learning outcomes in the colleges.
According to Alausa, the Ministry of Education will continue to work with relevant government agencies to complete the remaining administrative processes required to finalise the appointments in line with public service regulations.
He commended President Tinubu for approving the exercise, describing the decision as another demonstration of the administration’s commitment to making education a national priority.
The minister stressed that quality teachers remain the foundation of every successful education system, assuring all verified PTA teachers that the regularisation process would be carried out transparently, fairly and in accordance with due process.
For many years, Federal Unity Colleges have relied on PTA-funded teachers to fill staffing shortages caused by inadequate recruitment into the federal teaching service. Many of these teachers have performed the same responsibilities as permanent government employees while remaining without job security, prompting repeated calls from education stakeholders for their regularisation.
