(President Tinubu. Photo by Punch News)
President Tinubu has sanctioned the recruitment process for 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association teachers into the Federal Civil Service, an initiative designed to address chronic teacher shortages within Federal Unity Colleges and enhance educational standards.
The Minister of Education disclosed this development through a statement issued by his media adviser.
According to the minister, preference will be extended to verified PTA teachers, many of whom have provided services within Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges for nearly 25 years, thereby granting them entry into mainstream public service employment.
He characterised the approval as a substantial intervention by the current administration and among the most consequential measures undertaken to reinforce the teaching workforce, acknowledging the sustained contributions of numerous PTA teachers who have maintained educational continuity within federal institutions over the years.
The minister emphasised that the recruitment initiative followed an extensive verification process conducted by an inter-ministerial committee tasked with screening eligible PTA teachers across Federal Unity Colleges.
This exercise confirmed 3,252 teachers spanning categories including Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers, and Technical Instructors, thereby clearing the path toward their formal regularisation upon fulfilment of all requisite statutory procedures.
Characterising the development as a significant milestone under the administration’s broader policy framework, the minister indicated that the recruitment would enhance the teacher-student ratio within Federal Unity Colleges while recognising educators who maintained dedication despite prolonged periods of employment uncertainty.
He noted that incorporating experienced PTA teachers into federal public service would help preserve institutional expertise, reinforce classroom instruction quality, and improve overall learning outcomes throughout the colleges.
The minister further stated that the education ministry would continue collaborating with relevant government bodies to finalise remaining statutory procedures necessary for issuing final recruitment approval in accordance with public service regulations.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for sanctioning the initiative, describing the decision as evidence of the administration’s commitment to prioritising education within national development strategies.
The minister assured all verified PTA teachers that the regularisation process would proceed with transparency, equity, and thorough diligence, while reaffirming the ministry’s dedication to implementing policies that strengthen the teaching profession and ensure quality education delivery within Federal Unity Colleges.
For an extended period, Federal Unity Colleges have depended on PTA-engaged teachers, compensated directly by parent associations, to address persistent staffing deficits resulting from insufficient recruitment into the federal teaching service.
Numerous educators have served within these institutions for periods ranging from 10 to 25 years without securing permanent appointments, despite fulfilling identical classroom responsibilities as their government-employed counterparts.
Successive administrations have received appeals from affected teachers and education stakeholders advocating for regularisation of their employment status, citing the financial strain imposed on parents through this arrangement and the employment insecurity experienced by thousands of qualified educators.