By Philip Yatai
The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has appealed for a housing scheme for its members to improve their living conditions.
ASUSS Chairman in FCT, Mr Julius Ogundiran, made the call in Abuja on Monday, at the joint national celebration of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.
Ogundiran, who acknowledged the ongoing transformation in the education sector by the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, said that severe housing costs had forced many educators to commute long distances from outer states or sleep inside school classrooms.
He highlighted the critical link between teacher welfare, national stability, and the future of Nigerian education.
“If the government stands with the teachers, the teachers will be strong. If the teachers are strong, education will be strong. If education is strong, the nation will be strong.
“We have been hearing that the reward of teachers is in heaven. We don’t have to go to heaven before we start carrying our reward—let us enjoy it now,” the chairman said.
Ogundiran acknowledged that the FCT Administration paid teachers’ salaries promptly but emphasised that acute housing deficits remained a major challenge affecting teachers’ morale across the capital territory.
“Most of our colleagues, even in Garki here, are coming from Suleja or Abaji, and some are even sleeping in classrooms because they can’t afford houses in town.”
To resolve the crisis, Ogundiran urged the FCT leadership to construct dedicated housing estates or allocate subsidised land across all FCT area councils for teachers.
“We are not politicians; we don’t have any other revenue that we are collecting from students.
“If they can provide housing estates for teachers, we will be more motivated and well-equipped to perform our duties,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs Grace Philip, a teacher at Junior Secondary School, Tungan Maje, expressed frustration over the perceived marginalisation of educators.
“In everything they are doing in this country, teachers always come last,” she said.
Philip also pointed to systemic delays in the FCT teacher promotion structure, calling on authorities to listen to frontline voices.
In his remarks, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritising teacher welfare, professional training, and educational funding.
Bagudu, who was represented by an official in the ministry, Mrs Kikelomo Ogundele, described investment in education as “an indispensable investment in Nigeria’s future”.
He emphasised that no structural or policy reform in the education sector could succeed without well-trained, motivated, and adequately supported teachers.
The minister highlighted the foundational role teachers play across every sector of the national economy, stressing that teachers occupied a unique position in the development of every nation.
“They do far more than transmit knowledge; they shape characters, nurture talents, inspire ambition, and prepare young people to contribute meaningfully to society,” Bagudu said.
Chairman of the occasion, Mr Oluwaseun Falaye, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), called on leaders across educational institutions and workplaces to prioritise ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability in their managerial duties.
Falaye, who was represented by the Executive Director, Administration, Mr Samaila Abdul, highlighted the pivotal role teachers played in nation-building, noting that their influence extended far beyond classroom instruction.
“Teachers do far more than impart knowledge. They shape character, inspire values, nurture potentials, and prepare future generations to contribute meaningfully to society,” Falaye said.
Addressing the central theme of the workshop, Falaye stressed that true leadership transcends formal authority or technical proficiency, relying instead on a foundation of moral responsibility and service.
“Effective leadership is not defined solely by authority, position, or technical competence. It is strengthened by integrity, accountability, fairness, responsibility, discipline, and a positive attitude towards service and duty,” he noted. (NAN)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
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