In recent years, concerns over the treatment of teachers in Nigerian primary and secondary schools have grown louder, with countless educators sharing harrowing stories of overwork and underpayment. The problem, according to affected teachers, is not limited to rural areas but cuts across urban centres where private schools operate with little or no regulation regarding staff welfare. For many teachers, the job has become more of a burden than a calling, forcing some of the nation’s brightest educators to abandon the profession entirely.
One former teacher, reflecting on his experience, revealed that he was made to take on the combined responsibilities of teaching Senior Secondary One (SS1) to Senior Secondary Three (SS3) in core science subjects Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. The workload was unrelenting, with no breaks from Monday to Friday, and little room for rest or preparation. Despite his heavy contribution to the school’s academic success, his monthly salary was meagre and could barely sustain a decent livelihood.
Such stories highlight a disturbing trend in Nigeria’s education system where school owners, principals, and proprietors appear to prioritise profit over the welfare of their staff. The teacher explained that the unsustainable conditions pushed him to leave and join a lesson centre where, at least, he had more control over his time and earning potential. His departure was not due to a lack of passion for teaching but to the pressing need for survival in a harsh economic climate.
Another chemistry graduate currently teaching in a private school described his situation as demoralising. He lamented that his yearly earnings do not even amount to a full 12 months’ salary because of frequent salary cuts, delayed payments, or unpaid months. In a country where inflation has pushed the cost of living to new heights, this inconsistency in income leaves many teachers struggling to feed their families or pay basic bills.
For this teacher, the decision to quit is no longer just a thought but a necessity. The prospect of becoming a tricycle rider or learning a trade seems far more attractive than enduring continued exploitation in the classroom. He is not alone; many Nigerian teachers are leaving the profession for better-paying blue-collar jobs, a trend that poses a serious threat to the quality of education in the country.
Teachers in Nigeria’s private schools often face excessive workloads, sometimes being tasked with teaching multiple subjects far outside their specialisation. In the case of science teachers, it is not unusual to find one person covering Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry simultaneously. While this may cut costs for school owners, it drains the mental and physical capacity of the teachers involved.
Despite the high demands placed on them, the salaries offered are often shockingly low. In some cases, monthly pay barely crosses ₦20,000 to ₦30,000, an amount that is grossly inadequate in today’s economy. Worse still, some schools withhold salaries for months on end, citing low enrolment or delayed school fee payments from parents as excuses. Teachers are then left to survive on borrowed funds or side hustles.
The lack of proper labour regulation in Nigeria’s private education sector is a major enabler of this exploitation. While public school teachers at least benefit from government salary structures, private school teachers operate in a largely unmonitored space where their rights are easily trampled upon. Efforts to unionise and demand better conditions are often met with threats of dismissal.
The brain drain in Nigeria’s education sector is no longer limited to lecturers and professors leaving for foreign universities. At the grassroots level, talented and dedicated primary and secondary school teachers are also exiting the profession en masse. This mass departure is not simply due to a lack of patriotism but is rooted in the harsh reality that passion cannot pay the bills.
For many young teachers, the decision to abandon the classroom is heartbreaking. They often enter the profession with a desire to inspire and shape the future, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of overwork and financial struggle. The story of one “very good and intelligent” science teacher, skilled in four major subjects, mirrors that of countless others who have reluctantly turned to other trades to make ends meet.
While some may argue that teaching is a noble calling that should not be driven by financial gain, it is unrealistic to expect teachers to deliver quality education while worrying about how to pay rent or feed their families. Welfare is not a luxury it is a necessity for any profession, especially one as important as teaching.
The consequences of continued neglect are far-reaching. Overworked and underpaid teachers cannot give their best, leading to a decline in educational standards. Students, in turn, suffer from the lack of well-prepared and motivated instructors, creating a ripple effect that undermines the entire education system.
There is an urgent need for policymakers to enforce minimum wage standards for teachers in private schools and introduce measures to regulate workloads. Teachers should not be made to teach multiple unrelated subjects unless adequately compensated and supported with resources. Labour inspectors must also ensure that school owners do not withhold salaries or delay payments without just cause.
Parents, too, have a role to play. Many unknowingly contribute to the problem by choosing the cheapest school fees without considering how such budgets impact teacher welfare. Affordable education is important, but it should not come at the cost of teacher exploitation. Schools that invest in their teachers produce better results and more stable learning environments for children.
If Nigeria truly values education, then the welfare of teachers must be treated as a top priority. Without urgent reforms, the trend of skilled teachers leaving the classroom for lesson centres, trades, and transportation jobs will only intensify, eroding the very foundation of the nation’s future. The time to act is now, before the best hands are lost to other professions permanently.
