Teachers rejoice as Ogun Governor declares Monday work-free, unveils new education projects

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has approved Monday, October 6, 2025, as a work-free day for teachers in the state to celebrate this year’s World Teachers’ Day.

The governor made the announcement on Sunday at the 2025 Teachers’ Day celebration held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. According to the state’s Head of Service, Mr. Kolawole Odufowokan, the decision reflects Governor Abiodun’s appreciation of the vital role teachers play in nation-building.

Abiodun also announced plans to construct 12 blocks of 900 smart classrooms across four schools in each of the state’s education zones.

The benefiting schools include Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi-Aba; Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode; Remo Secondary School, Sagamu; and Yewa College, Ilaro.

The governor further disclosed that 1,000 OgunTeach interns have been absorbed into the State Teaching Service Commission, bringing the total number of absorbed interns to 5,000 since the inception of his administration.

To improve special education, Abiodun approved the renovation of all special schools and an increase in the feeding allowance for pupils in those institutions.

He also promised to pay transport allowances to all public school teachers, in place of the work-free days already granted to other state workers.

Highlighting other education initiatives, the governor mentioned the establishment of the Ogun State Education Intervention Fund, the successful conduct of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) using Optical Mark Reader (OMR) sheets, and the installation of ICT facilities ahead of the Nigeria Learning Passport e-content rollout.

Addressing concerns over the unaccessed 2020 UBEC funds, Abiodun explained that his administration had cleared the backlog from 2014 to 2017 and accessed those funds after paying the required counterpart contributions.

He said the state is currently implementing projects under the 2018 and 2019 UBEC allocations.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving teachers’ welfare and fostering collaboration among educators nationwide.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this known during the grand finale of the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration and the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards held in Abuja.

Themed “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” the event underscored the importance of teamwork and peer learning in enhancing teaching quality and learning outcomes.

Alausa emphasized that supporting teachers through peer mentoring, co-teaching, and digital collaboration improves classroom results and professional growth.

He noted that the government is implementing key reforms, including the National Teacher Policy, to strengthen the teaching profession.

He highlighted the roles of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), the National Teachers Institute (NTI), and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in ensuring continuous professional development and adherence to standards.

According to Alausa, “Teaching is no longer an individual task but a shared responsibility.

The future of education depends on collaboration, trust, and collective accountability.”

Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, added that several initiatives, such as the National Teacher Development Policy (2022), the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework, and the establishment of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), are being implemented to promote innovation and cooperation among teachers.

She stressed that while many educators have worked in isolation, modern teaching requires collaboration to address challenges such as large class sizes, curriculum changes, and digital learning demands.

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Audu Amba, also emphasized the importance of collaboration in improving education quality.

However, he expressed concern over the slow implementation of incentive packages earlier approved for teachers under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Amba urged both federal and state governments to ensure full implementation of these benefits, stressing that teachers’ welfare is central to attracting and retaining qualified educators.

He further called on the Federal Government to revisit the decision to delist the TRCN from public funding, noting that adequate financing is essential for effective regulation and professional development in the teaching sector.

World Teachers’ Day, celebrated annually on October 5, provides an opportunity to honour teachers’ contributions and reflect on the challenges facing the profession, with renewed calls for greater support and investment in education.