FG Recruit 3,252 PTA Teachers Into Federal Civil Service

President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers into the Federal Civil Service, marking a major step toward addressing teacher shortages in Federal Unity Colleges and strengthening the country's education sector.

The approval was announced on Thursday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.

According to the minister, the recruitment will focus on verified PTA teachers who have dedicated many years to teaching in Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges without securing permanent government appointments. Some of the beneficiaries have reportedly served in the schools for nearly 25 years.

Alausa described the decision as a significant intervention by the Tinubu administration, noting that it reflects the government's commitment to improving the quality of education while recognising the sacrifices and dedication of PTA teachers who have sustained learning in federal schools for decades.

He explained that the recruitment followed a nationwide verification exercise carried out by an inter-ministerial committee, which confirmed the eligibility of 3,252 teachers. The verified personnel span the cadres of Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers and Technical Instructors and will be absorbed into the Federal Civil Service after completing all statutory requirements.

The minister said the initiative aligns with the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda and is expected to improve the teacher-to-student ratio in Federal Unity Colleges by bringing experienced educators into the mainstream public service.

He added that integrating the teachers into the federal workforce would help preserve institutional knowledge, enhance classroom instruction and improve learning outcomes across the colleges.

Alausa stressed that the recruitment forms part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the teaching profession and repositioning Federal Unity Colleges as centres of academic excellence.

He also assured the verified teachers that the regularisation process would be conducted transparently, fairly and in accordance with public service regulations, while the ministry works with relevant government agencies to complete the remaining administrative procedures.

Commending President Tinubu for approving the exercise, the minister said investing in teachers remains essential to building a stronger education system, emphasizing that the quality of any education system depends largely on the quality of its teachers.

For many years, Federal Unity Colleges have depended on PTA-funded teachers to fill staffing shortages created by limited recruitment into the federal teaching service. Thousands of qualified teachers have continued to teach under temporary arrangements, with many serving for between 10 and 25 years despite carrying out the same responsibilities as permanently employed government teachers.

Education stakeholders and the affected teachers have repeatedly called on successive administrations to regularise their appointments, arguing that reliance on PTA-funded staff not only created job insecurity but also placed an additional financial burden on parents. The latest approval is expected to provide long-awaited relief for the affected teachers while strengthening the staffing capacity of federal schools.