The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Professor Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye, has revealed that no teacher in Lagos State earns less than ₦150,000 monthly, underscoring the government’s commitment to teachers’ welfare and education quality.
She made this known during an event themed “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” held at LASUED’s Ijanikin campus on Monday to mark the 2025 World Teachers’ Day. The gathering brought together teachers, education policymakers, and other stakeholders to discuss the future of the teaching profession.
According to her, teachers’ welfare remains central to achieving sustainable educational growth in Nigeria.
“When teachers are undervalued, underpaid, and unsupported, the entire educational edifice begins to crack. This reality often leads to brain drain, low morale, and a reduced appeal of the profession to bright young minds,” she said.
Professor Lafiaji-Okuneye emphasized that Lagos State remains one of the few states in the federation with a competitive salary structure for teachers.
“In Lagos State, I can tell you authoritatively that we are building our teachers’ world, and no teacher goes home with less than ₦150,000 in the state. But we can do better,” she added.
Lagos Teachers Earn a Minimum of N150,000 Monthly — LASUED VC
Speaking further, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the unwavering dedication of teachers but noted that several challenges still impede the growth of the profession across the country.
“Despite your immeasurable contribution, many teachers still grapple with inadequate preparation, poor working conditions, limited access to professional development opportunities, and, at times, a disheartening lack of societal appreciation,” she said.
She called for continuous reforms to improve working conditions and strengthen teachers’ morale, while urging the Lagos State Government and funding agencies to prioritize investment in modern teaching infrastructure.
“The Lagos State Government, in partnership with TETFund and other funding agencies, could allocate 20% of its annual education budget specifically towards upgrading classroom infrastructure. This should also provide digital learning tools and establish well-equipped science and technology laboratories in public schools, commencing from the 2026 fiscal year,” Lafiaji-Okuneye proposed.
Meanwhile, recent developments by the Federal Ministry of Education show progress in teachers’ professional development. In August, the Ministry unveiled a digital portal for teachers’ registration, licensing, and certification under the oversight of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
The TRCN also streamlined its Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), reducing subjects from 23 to five core areas — foundational mathematics, literacy, pedagogy, digital literacy, and safeguarding.
According to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, teachers without an education degree but with at least 12 months of classroom experience can now qualify through an abridged certification programme via the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI).
