The Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr Ronke Soyombo, has expressed serious concern over the poor pay conditions of teachers in many Nigerian private schools, revealing that some educators still earn as little as N20,000 every month.
Soyombo made this known at the yearly summit of the Conference of Private School Associations in Lagos, themed “Transformation of Education in Lagos State.”
She warned that poor remuneration was a major threat to teacher motivation and retention, and stressed that Nigeria cannot improve its education system without first improving the lives of those who run its classrooms.
“If we want good service, we have to pay teachers well. For us to get quality service from teachers and stop them from looking left, right and centre, they also want to send their children to good schools, so let’s pay teachers good money,” she said.
Soyombo recounted the story of an award-winning teacher from a private school who was forced to sell a car he received as an award simply because his salary could not sustain him.
She also tackled the reluctance of some private school owners to train their staff, noting that many avoided investing in teachers out of fear they would leave for better-paying jobs elsewhere.
“We have to look at the conditions of service and make teachers the cornerstone of a quality educational system,” she stated.
The TRCN boss also called for stronger teacher regulation, continuous professional development and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in classrooms.
She disclosed that TRCN has upgraded its digital teacher portal to ease registration, licensing and certification, and that plans are underway to launch a mobile application for teachers nationwide. A toll-free line for reporting sexual abuse and professional misconduct is also being introduced, alongside plans for criminal record checks on teachers.
Also speaking at the summit, former First Bank of Nigeria chairman and entrepreneur Ibukun Awosika said strong leadership is the most critical ingredient for meaningful transformation in education.
“There is no development in any nation without an educated population. The extent of the enlightenment of the population is critical to the ability of the state or nation to develop and deliver on its agenda,” Awosika said.
She challenged educators to build learning environments that encourage curiosity, critical thinking and innovation, while urging policymakers to align education with the country’s economic needs.
Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to school safety and quality education, noting that over 400 classrooms have been constructed in public schools alongside ongoing investments in STEM and digital learning.
The President of the Conference of Private School Associations in Lagos, Dr Olufemi Ogunsanya, warned that neglecting education could worsen insecurity, unemployment and national decline, and urged all stakeholders to invest in teachers and innovation.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
