The National Executive Committee, (NEC), of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, Nigeria, has urged the federal government to put an end to incessant policy changes in the education sector but rarher, pay more attention to proper funding and improved teachers’ welfare.
The assertion was made by the union in a communiqué issued at the end of its NEC meeting held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the ASUSS Building in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
The communiqué signed by the National President of the union, Comrade Sola Adigun, and Secretary General, Comrade Kenneth Okon Chukuma, among other things expressed concern over what it described as frequent policy shifts by the Federal Ministry of Education, citing the recent proposal to scrap the JSS and SS structure and the attempted increment in NECO and WAEC fees which was later suspended.
The union argued that the quality of education is not determined by policy changes but by proper funding, implementation, and adequate remuneration of teachers.
“Under an ideal situation, you don’t increase WAEC and NECO fees when people are still battling with high cost of living and economic hardship,” the union stated. It, however, commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa for suspending the increment following public outcry.
The union also noted that the 6-3-3-4 education system introduced in 1982 and modeled after Japan’s system is still functional in that country, and urged government to create the enabling environment that makes policies work rather than importing new ones without infrastructure.
It observed that illegal mining in some communities is driving underage children out of school into mining sites, while insecurity including banditry and kidnapping has made schools soft targets.
To address this, ASUSS called on government at all levels to urgently discourage illegal mining and the engagement of children in such activities.
It also called for the establishment of a Special Schools Protection Squad, SSPS to secure schools nationwide, and for intensified efforts to rescue abducted students and teachers still in captivity.
The union through its NEC highly appreciated the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, for what it described as “unprecedented support” for ASUSS.
The support, according to the union, includes financial assistance for the ASUSS State Secretariat, provision of a 16-seater bus, elimination of salary and promotion arrears, massive infrastructural development in public secondary schools, and institutionalization of the annual World Teachers’ Day celebration.
The union commended the Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Folake Olomojobi, for delivering the keynote address on “The Mindset Shift: Restoring the Dignity, Reclaiming Values and Redefining Teachers’ Status.”
The National Executive Council of the Association further applauded ASUSS Ekiti State Chapter for successfully hosting the 1st Rotational NEC Meeting and for building a befitting state secretariat.
On the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, (TRCN) matter, NEC resolved that its previous position still stands “until TRCN does the needful.”
The union also charged secondary school teachers to demonstrate greater commitment to duty and pledged to continue partnering with government at all levels to ensure quality education delivery and improved teachers’ welfare noting that, investment in education remains the surest road to national development.
