As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark World Teachers’ Day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Federal and state governments to urgently increase investment in teachers, schools and learning facilities.
The commission warned that the right to quality education could not be guaranteed where teachers were poorly supported and schools remained unsafe or inadequately equipped.
The NHRC Executive Secretary, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN made the call in a statement marking the 2026 World Teachers’ Day, celebrated on October 5.
Ojukwu said improving Nigeria’s education system required more than policy commitments, stressing that teacher welfare, professional development and decent working conditions were integral to the right of every child to quality education.
He therefore urged governments to prioritise education in their planning and budgets, particularly in rural, underserved and conflict-affected communities where children face greater barriers to learning.
The NHRC boss described teachers as indispensable to the realisation of the right to education and the development of a society anchored on equality, human dignity and respect for human rights.
He called for regular professional training, timely payment of salaries, decent working conditions, manageable workloads and adequate teaching resources for teachers.
According to him, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate facilities and poor learning environments ultimately undermine the quality of education available to children.
Ojukwu also urged governments to accelerate investment in functional classrooms, water and sanitation facilities, electricity, digital learning infrastructure and disability-inclusive facilities, particularly in communities where educational infrastructure remains inadequate.
He stressed that children must learn in environments free from violence, bullying, discrimination and other forms of abuse.
The NHRC Executive Secretary called for particular attention to girls, children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to ensure equal access to education.
He also urged the National Assembly to pass the Safe Schools Bill into law without further delay.
Ojukwu said Nigeria’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4 and other national and international obligations on the right to education required sustained efforts to recruit, train, motivate and retain qualified teachers while improving their working conditions.
He called on governments, education authorities, school administrators, parents and communities to move beyond declarations and take concrete steps to make quality, inclusive and safe education a reality for every Nigerian child.
“Investing in teachers is investing in the right to education and the future of the country. A nation cannot guarantee quality education while its teachers are inadequately supported and its schools remain unsafe or poorly equipped,” he said.
He added that government must translate education commitments and budgetary allocations into visible improvements in classrooms and the lives of teachers and learners.
