FG okays permanent employment of 3,252 PTA teachers into federal civil service

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

Alausa explained that the recruitment exercise will prioritise verified PTA teachers, many of whom have spent years teaching in Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges without permanent employment.

According to the minister, some of the affected teachers have served in the schools for nearly 25 years, and the approval will allow them to transition into the mainstream Federal Civil Service.

He said the move reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the education sector, improving teaching quality, and recognising the long-standing contributions of PTA teachers to public schools.

Alausa described the approval as a major intervention by the Tinubu administration and one of the most significant efforts to strengthen the teaching workforce, while recognising the contributions of thousands of PTA teachers who have sustained learning in federal schools over the years.

“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. This approval provides them with the opportunity to become part of the mainstream public service,” the minister said.

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

The exercise, he said, verified “3,252 teachers across the cadres of Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers and Technical Instructors, paving the way for their regularisation upon completion of all statutory requirements.”

Describing the development as a milestone under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Alausa said the recruitment would improve the teacher-student ratio in Federal Unity Colleges while rewarding teachers who had remained committed 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 the colleges.

“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 added that the education ministry would continue to work with relevant government agencies to conclude the remaining statutory processes required for the issuance of the final recruitment approval in line with public service regulations.

He thanked Tinubu for approving the exercise, saying the decision demonstrated the administration’s resolve to place 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,” he said.

Alausa assured all verified PTA teachers that the regularisation process would be concluded with transparency, fairness and due diligence.

He also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to implementing policies that strengthen the teaching profession, improve learning outcomes and ensure that learners in Federal Unity Colleges receive quality education from competent and dedicated teachers.

For years, Federal Unity Colleges have relied on PTA teachers engaged and paid by PTAs to bridge chronic staffing gaps caused by inadequate recruitment into the federal teaching service. Many of the teachers have worked in the colleges for between 10 and 25 years without permanent appointments, despite performing the same classroom responsibilities as regular government-employed teachers.

Successive administrations received appeals from the affected teachers and education stakeholders to regularise their appointments, arguing that the prolonged reliance on PTA-funded staff placed a financial burden on parents and created job insecurity for thousands of qualified teachers.