President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers into the Federal Civil Service, a landmark move aimed at tackling teacher shortages in Federal Unity Colleges and strengthening the quality of education across the country.
The approval, announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, marks a major step toward regularising the appointments of thousands of PTA teachers who have served in Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges for up to 25 years without permanent employment.
In a statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa said priority would be given to verified PTA teachers, many of whom have dedicated decades to teaching despite working outside the formal public service.
“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.
According to Alausa, the recruitment follows a comprehensive verification exercise conducted by an inter-ministerial committee, which screened eligible PTA teachers across Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
The exercise verified 3,252 teachers across the cadres of Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers, and Technical Instructors, paving the way for their regularisation once all statutory recruitment requirements are completed.
Describing the approval as a significant milestone under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the minister said the initiative would improve the teacher-to-student ratio in Federal Unity Colleges while recognising the dedication and sacrifices of PTA teachers who have kept classrooms running despite years of uncertainty.
He noted that integrating experienced PTA teachers into the Federal Civil Service would preserve institutional knowledge, strengthen classroom instruction, and improve learning outcomes across the country’s unity schools.
Alausa added that the recruitment forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to improve teacher quality and reposition Federal Unity Colleges as centres of academic excellence.
He assured affected teachers that the Ministry of Education would continue working with relevant government agencies to complete all remaining statutory processes required for the issuance of final appointment letters in line with public service regulations.
The minister thanked President Tinubu for approving the recruitment, describing the decision as a demonstration 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,” he said.
He further assured all verified PTA teachers that the regularisation process would be conducted with transparency, fairness, and due diligence while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to strengthening the teaching profession and ensuring quality education for learners in Federal Unity Colleges.
For years, Federal Unity Colleges have relied on PTA-funded teachers to bridge staffing shortages caused by inadequate recruitment into the federal teaching service. Many of these educators have served for between 10 and 25 years without permanent appointments, despite performing the same responsibilities as government-employed teachers.
Education stakeholders and the affected teachers have consistently appealed for the regularisation of their appointments, arguing that the prolonged dependence on PTA-funded staff placed a financial burden on parents and left thousands of qualified teachers without job security.
