The removal of a 27-year career progression barrier that restricted primary school teachers in Oyo State to Grade Level 13 has been identified as one of the major reforms that restored professional dignity to educators under Governor Seyi Makinde.
A former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the state, Comrade Raji Oladimeji, said the reform, alongside the recruitment of more than 14,000 teachers and regular payment of salaries, had significantly altered the fortunes of teachers since Makinde assumed office in 2019.
Oladimeji, who also serves as Deputy Chairman of the Mobilisation Committee of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), said the administration had dismantled longstanding barriers to teachers’ career advancement and improved their welfare.
He made the remarks while assessing the administration’s record in the education sector, recalling that teachers previously endured salary delays, unpaid leave allowances and years of stalled promotions.
According to him, the restriction on career progression had remained in place for about 27 years before the Makinde administration lifted it, allowing primary school teachers to advance to Grade Level 16, with prospects of further progression to Grade Level 17.
He described the appointment of teachers as Permanent Secretaries and Tutor-Generals across the state’s 10 educational zones as another significant step towards recognising professional competence in education management.
“God answered the prayers of teachers by giving us a governor who understands our plight. As the son of a teacher, Governor Makinde changed the narrative. Today, teachers can walk with their heads held high and speak with confidence,” he said.
The former union leader recalled that teachers were on strike when Makinde took office in 2019 over outstanding entitlements and welfare concerns.
He said the governor subsequently cleared salary arrears and leave bonuses, regularised salary payments and addressed the gaps of two to three months that had previously characterised the payment system.
Oladimeji added that the administration also bridged the disparity in salary payment between primary and secondary school teachers, creating a more predictable income structure.
He said the improved financial stability had strengthened teachers’ cooperative societies and supported the operations of NUT Endwell projects, while easing pressure on teachers and their families.
On recruitment, Oladimeji commended the government for employing over 14,000 teachers into the primary and secondary education sectors, describing the exercise as a response to the global shortage of educators.
He praised the Ministry of Education, Oyo TESCOM and the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) for what he described as a transparent recruitment process that accommodated non-indigenes and was free from political, ethnic and discriminatory considerations.
The former NUT chairman said the recruitment drive had also helped improve school enrolment and address the challenge of out-of-school children.
He further recalled the reinstatement of teachers removed from the payroll under previous administrations, saying the review of affected cases had enabled deserving educators to return to service.
According to him, the administration had also replaced what he described as arbitrary screening and victimisation with disciplinary procedures that allowed accused teachers to defend themselves before appropriate committees.
Oladimeji cited Makinde’s participation in the 2024 Teachers’ Day celebration, despite heavy rainfall and other official engagements, as evidence of the governor’s personal commitment to the teaching community.
He also mentioned the rehabilitation of the road leading to the NUT office, which he said had remained neglected for years, as another intervention appreciated by teachers.
He said the governor’s relationship with the teaching community had attracted commendations and awards from the national leadership of the NUT.
Looking beyond the present administration, Oladimeji called for the protection of the gains recorded in teachers’ welfare, particularly through a sustainable framework for salaries, pensions and other entitlements.
He expressed support for the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, whom he described as capable of understanding and sustaining the education policies established under Makinde.
Oladimeji also voiced support for the party’s political aspirations, including Adekanmbi’s governorship bid and Makinde’s reported presidential ambition.
He maintained that the future of education in the state depended on preserving policies that prioritised teachers’ welfare, career advancement and professional dignity.
