The national president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Amba, on Saturday in Ibadan called for adequate funding of the country’s education sector.

Mr Amba, who made the demand in Ibadan during the 2024 World Teachers’ Day celebration, said this was necessary for effective and better education policy formulation.

“This will help in enhancing the sector, for it to be better and effective, especially in the area of policy formulation,” the NUT president, represented by Isa Shuaib, another national union official, said.

He noted that 23 states have implemented the new retirement policy of 65 years of age and 40 years in service for teachers.

”I urge the remaining 13 states and the FCT to do so too,” Mr Amba said.

The NUT president said the implementation would help the country to benefit from teachers’ experiences and promote better and quality education in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the theme presenter at the event, Olu Abiala, said teachers’ voices were yet not being heard.

”They must be heard to better their living conditions and improve education standard in the country,” he said.

Mr Abiala contended that teachers in Nigeria were confronting various challenges and must live a dignified life and derive satisfaction while doing their jobs.

”This is important for the country to witness the desired development,” he said.

The occasion witnessed the inauguration of Oyo NUT’s newly constructed primary section of 10 blocks of classrooms and the presentation of awards.

The awardees included Salihu Adelabu, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, and Nureni Adeniran, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) executive chairman.

Others included the State House of Assembly speaker, Debo Ogundoyin.

(NAN)