Tinubu Approves Recruitment of 3,252 PTA Teachers into Unity, Technical Colleges

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association teachers into the Federal Civil Service as part of efforts to address staffing shortages in Federal Unity Colleges and improve the quality of teaching.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.

Alausa said priority would be given to verified PTA teachers who have served for several years in Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges, with some having spent almost 25 years in the institutions.

According to him, the presidential approval will provide the affected teachers with an opportunity to transition into the mainstream federal public service.

He described the decision as a major intervention by the Tinubu administration and a significant step towards strengthening the teaching workforce, while recognising the contributions of PTA teachers who have helped sustain learning in federal schools despite prolonged uncertainty over their employment status.

“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,” Alausa said.

The minister explained that the recruitment followed a comprehensive verification exercise conducted by an inter-ministerial committee, which screened eligible PTA teachers across Federal Unity Colleges.

He said the exercise verified 3,252 teachers comprising Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers and Technical Instructors.

The verified teachers, he added, would be regularised upon the completion of all statutory requirements.

Alausa said the recruitment would improve the teacher-student ratio in Federal Unity Colleges while recognising teachers who had remained committed to their duties despite years of employment uncertainty.

He further noted that integrating the experienced PTA teachers into the federal public service would help preserve institutional knowledge, strengthen classroom instruction and improve learning outcomes.

“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 said.

The minister said the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to work with relevant government agencies to conclude the remaining statutory processes required for the final recruitment approval in accordance with public service regulations.

He 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, as no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers,” Alausa said.

He assured all verified PTA teachers that the regularisation process would be conducted transparently, fairly and in accordance with due process.

Alausa also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to policies aimed at strengthening the teaching profession, improving learning outcomes and ensuring that students in Federal Unity Colleges receive quality education from competent and dedicated teachers.

Federal Unity Colleges have for years relied on teachers employed and funded by PTAs to address staffing gaps arising from limited recruitment into the federal teaching service.

Many of the affected teachers have served between 10 and 25 years without permanent appointments, despite performing similar classroom duties as their counterparts employed directly by the Federal Government.

Successive administrations have received appeals from the teachers and education stakeholders for their regularisation, with advocates arguing that prolonged reliance on PTA-funded teachers placed additional financial pressure on parents while leaving qualified educators in a state of employment uncertainty.