FG approves recruitment of 3,252 PTA teachers into federal public service

The Federal Government has approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association teachers into the federal public service. The approval absorbs educators who have taught in Unity and Technical Colleges across the country for up to 25 years without permanent government appointments.

Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa made the announcement on Thursday in Abuja, describing it as a landmark intervention that addresses a persistent teacher shortage in Federal Unity Colleges.

What the minister said

Alausa said the recruitment reflects a dual purpose: addressing the teacher deficit in federal schools while honouring the service of educators who have contributed to the system without the job security their colleagues in the public service enjoy.

“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,” he said.

“This administration is determined to ensure that every child in our Federal Unity Colleges is taught by qualified, motivated and professionally supported teachers,” he added.

He assured all verified PTA teachers that the regularisation exercise would be conducted transparently, fairly, and in full compliance with established public service rules and due process requirements.

On the broader significance of the approval, Alausa said investing in teachers remains central to building a stronger educational system.

“The quality of any nation’s education cannot exceed the quality of its teachers,” he said, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to implementing reforms that strengthen the teaching profession and improve learning outcomes across Federal Unity Colleges.

Verification and recruitment process

The approved teachers were verified across three cadres: Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers, and Technical Instructors. The verification exercise was coordinated by an inter-ministerial committee, which carefully screened eligible PTA teachers before recommending them for absorption into the federal workforce.

Alausa said integrating experienced PTA teachers into the federal workforce would preserve institutional knowledge, strengthen classroom instruction, and improve educational standards across Unity Colleges nationwide.

Educational stakeholders have consistently identified teacher shortages as one of the most critical challenges confronting Federal Unity Colleges, making Thursday’s approval one of the most significant workforce interventions in the sector under the current administration.

Wider education reforms

The recruitment of 3,252 PTA teachers is the latest in a series of Federal Government initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education sector. Last year, the Federal Ministry of Education trained 270 technical teachers and instructors in digital literacy pedagogy and trade-specific skills during a 21-day programme held in Ibadan.

The training was designed to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training by equipping educators with the skills needed to meet the demands of an evolving workforce.

Earlier this year, the Federal Government also announced plans to connect schools nationwide to reliable internet services to strengthen digital learning. That initiative was discussed during a high-level meeting between Alausa and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.

For Nigerian schools, the absorption of long-serving PTA teachers means more stable staffing in Unity Colleges and better recognition for educators who have worked for years without permanent appointments. The move also supports the government’s broader push to improve teaching quality and learning outcomes in public schools.