Education
Minimum wage: Shortage of teachers hits private schools in Oyo
Private primary and secondary schools in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, have been hit with shortage of teachers, Ekwutosblog reports.
A source hinted that the development is visible in major cities and towns such as Ogbomoso, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin, Eruwa and other locations in the state.
Findings by Ekwutosblog revealed that this was noticed at the beginning of the second term of the 2024/2025 academic session on Monday, 6th January, 2025.
It was observed that hundreds of teachers in both private primary and secondary schools across the state failed to resume when the new term began.
This is said to be due to the employment of some teachers by the Oyo State government and the implementation of the new minimum wage.
It could be recalled that the state government under the leadership of Engineer Seyi Makinde recently employed no fewer than 5,600 teachers across the state, in order to fill the vacant positions in public schools across the state.
Investigation by Ekwutosblog at the weekend revealed that the state government had on Monday, 6th January 2025 began the distribution of letters of appointment to the newly recruited basic school teachers in the state.
Adeniran, who restated the Board’s zero tolerance for examination malpractices, said the new teachers’ appointments take effect from January 1st, 2025.
He, however, noted that about 12 local governments are over-bloated with teachers, while some local governments are under-staffed, saying a redistribution would be done to ensure equity and justice.
Adeniran urged the newly recruited teachers to display patriotic commitment, high level of integrity, and professional diligence to their duties.
“As young teachers, you are expected to be creative, adaptive, talented, and progressive. We urge you to be innovative, I therefore urge you to be the teacher for this age and the game-changing teacher for the future.
“You will be expected to be part of our dream to revolutionalize the basic education sub-sector,” he said.
Our correspondent learnt that the majority of those who were employed by the state government are teachers who were teaching in private primary and secondary schools in the state.
Ekwutosblog also gathered that the state government in November approved N80,000 as minimum wage for workers in the state.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, made this declaration in a statement made available to Ekwutosblog .
Oyelade said that the Technical Committee set up by the state government recommended the amount.
He said: “This new scale will be implemented as soon as the consequential adjustments process is completed by the committee which comprises Government and Labour top officials.”
Following these developments, private schools are now faced with an acute shortage of teachers.
From Ido, to Akinyele, Lagelu to Egbeda, Ona Ara to Oluyole, Ibadan North to Ibadan North West, Ibadan North East to Ibadan South West and Ibadan North, our correspondent reports that the situation remains the same.
A similar thing is currently happening in other cities and towns in the state such as Ogbomoso, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin and Eruwa.
Some of the teachers and parents who spoke with Ekwutosblog attributed the development to the employment of teachers by the state government and the new minimum wage policy.
A school administrator in one of the affected schools in Lagelu local government area, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that no fewer than 20 teachers left the school this term.
He attributed the development to the recent recruitment of teachers and the new minimum wage.
“The recent recruitment by Oyo State Government and the quest for the new minimum wage by the workers had negatively affected us.
“As of today, no fewer than 27 teachers left our school at the beginning of this term.
“We are looking for ways to replace them immediately but we are yet to see the new ones that are qualified.
“We have to increase our salary to be able to attract quality teachers and retain the remaining ones that are with us in the school,” he said.
A teacher in one of the private schools in Ibadan North local government area, Mrs. Busayo Akindele disclosed that no fewer than three teachers did not resume when the new term began.
She said that the school was now looking for ways to replace those who left.
“In our school, three teachers have left. You know the state government recently employed over 5,000 teachers.
“We that are here are also demanding the payment of the new minimum wage. So, this is negatively affecting the majority of the schools in the state.
“We are affected and I am sure other schools are being affected too,” she stated.
A parent who resides in Ido local government area, Mrs. Sade Oladele also confirmed that some teachers have left her children’s schools.
“The employment of new teachers by the state government is having negative consequences on private schools in the state.
“You know that the state government recently employed some teachers. I commend the state government for the opportunity given to the qualified teachers.
“It is commendable, at least it will help to increase the standard of education in the state.
“But, at the same time, it is having negative consequences on the private schools,” she noted.
An indigene of Iseyin in Oke Ogun geopolitical zone identified as Omolara said that the situation remained the same in the Oke Ogun geopolitical zone.
According to him, “It is the same thing we are experiencing in Iseyin.
“Many of the people who are teaching in private schools have left because they have been given letters of appointments by the state government.
“You also need to understand the issue of the new minimum wage. Some schools do not have the capacity to pay, so many teachers have left.”
The distribution took place at Local Government Universal Basic Education Authorities, LGUBEAs, situated in all local government areas across the state.
Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, who spoke on the development recently, charged the new teachers to be innovative and embrace modern techniques and approach in imparting knowledge.
The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed claims that it approved the “Living History” textbook, which reportedly excluded Igbo content Officials confirmed the book was never submitted to the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and is not on the list of approved instructional materials The Ministry urged schools and parents to disregard misinformation, stressing that only authorized textbooks reflect Nigeria’s cultural diversity and national values
The Federal Ministry of Education has denied approving the “Living History” textbook, which reportedly excluded Igbo content. As reported by Dailytrust, officials clarified that the book was not authorized for use in any Nigerian school.
In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the Ministry stressed that “Living History” had never been submitted to the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
The Council is the statutory body responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and approving instructional materials under the national curriculum.
As a result, the Ministry confirmed that the book was neither recommended by NERDC nor included on the official list of approved History textbooks.
The Ministry explained that consultations with NERDC leadership and a review of officially endorsed materials confirmed that “Living History” did not form part of the approved instructional resources for schools nationwide. Warning against misinformation Parents, teachers, school proprietors, and administrators were urged to disregard speculation, misinformation, and what the Ministry described as “emotionally charged narratives” surrounding the book. Officials warned that unapproved materials could undermine curriculum standards and negatively affect teaching and learning outcomes. “All approved textbooks strictly comply with the national curriculum and reflect Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, shared history, and core national values, while promoting inclusivity, balance, and unity,” the statement noted.
Call for responsible discourse Folasade further appealed to the public to support responsible discourse, reject divisive misinformation, and verify the approval status of educational materials through official channels before adoption.
“The public is encouraged to consult NERDC for verified information on approved textbooks. Education thrives on truth. Unity thrives on understanding,” the statement added.
Ministry urges schools and parents to reject misinformation on unapproved textbooks. Photo credit: Tunji Alausa/x Source: Twitter
FG addresses claim it abandoned Nigerian students in Morocco Legit.ng earlier reported that the Federal Government has rejected reports suggesting that Nigerian students studying in Morocco under a bilateral scholarship scheme were abandoned or denied funding. Education authorities described the circulating claims as misleading and deliberately crafted to distort public understanding.
In a post on its official social handles, the Education ministry clarified that every beneficiary admitted into the Bilateral Education Scholarship programme before 2024 received payments up to the approved 2024 budget cycle. Any outstanding delays were linked to fiscal adjustments currently being resolved through engagements between the education and finance ministries. Education Minister Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa confirmed that no fresh bilateral scholarship awards were issued from October 2025 onward. Documents circulating online claiming otherwise were described as unauthenticated and designed to discredit government policy. According to the ministry, the decision to discontinue government-funded overseas bilateral scholarships followed a policy assessment which showed that Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education now possess the capacity to deliver similar academic programmes locally. Source: Legit.ng
The Federal Government has opened applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme.
The announcement in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said the programme offers Nigerian postgraduate students the opportunity to study abroad.
According to the post, successful applicants will pursue studies in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia under the fully funded scholarship scheme.
“FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas,” the post stated.
Details published on the PTDF scholarship portal show that the scheme is open to MSc and PhD candidates in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas sector. Benefits include full tuition, return air tickets, accommodation, living allowances, health insurance and bench fees where applicable.
The agency said the initiative is designed to strengthen local expertise in the energy sector.
“The 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships provide access to world-class training, research facilities, and global expertise, while developing indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector,” PTDF said.
For MSc applicants, eligibility requirements include a minimum of a Second Class Lower (2.2) degree or higher, completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, computer literacy, and at least five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
PhD applicants are also required to submit a research proposal of no more than five pages detailing their objectives, methodology and data collection strategy.
PTDF explained that PhD candidates studying in the United Kingdom will follow a split-site arrangement, conducting research between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and selected partner universities, including Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Portsmouth.
The agency noted that the scholarship is highly competitive and selection will be strictly merit-based.
“Only candidates who demonstrate outstanding merit and suitability will be considered,” the statement said.
Applicants will be assessed based on academic performance, quality of research proposals, professional memberships and the relevance of their chosen fields to the oil and gas industry.
PTDF also warned that applicants must verify their National Identity Number (NIN) before applying, adding that multiple submissions or falsified documents would lead to automatic disqualification.
Interested candidates are to apply online via scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for approved programmes at PTDF partner institutions.
The deadline for applications is February 27, 2026.
The Rector, Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Eduma Essien, has encouraged students of the institution to report any form of sexual pressure or harassment from lecturers to the management or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Unit of the Polytechnic for appropriate investigation and sanctions.
Essien also cautioned students against engaging in examination malpractices, cultism or any form of antisocial behaviors, adding that the school will not condone any of the vices.
She also charged them to be conversant with the polytechnic’s policies, rules and regulations.
Speaking during the 12th Orientation Exercise for newly admitted students on Tuesday, the rector also stated that the sale of handouts is prohibited in the polytechnic, saying students should only purchase approved textbooks.
Essien assured the students that as long as she remains at the helm of affairs, learning would be made easy in an environment that promotes discipline, safety and academic excellence.
She said, “I encourage you to report any form of sexual pressure from lecturers to the management or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Unit. This institution frowns at the exchange of gifts for marks.
“We also have zero tolerance for cultism and examination malpractice because we want to produce graduates who can confidently defend their certificates anywhere.”
The rector explained that students of the polytechnic would not only graduate with academic certificates but acquire practical skills through the institution’s mandatory skills acquisition program.
According to her, the world is increasingly focused on what individuals can offer to society.
Essien equally encouraged the students to cooperate with their lecturers by diligently carrying out their assignments to make teaching and learning effective and rewarding.
The orientation exercise also featured resource persons who delivered lectures on various aspects of the polytechnic system. They include the Registrar, Mr Idhigu Lucky, the Bursar, Sir Emmanuel Esomonu, the Polytechnic Librarian, Mr Ehikioya Uduebor, among others.
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