Kogi Govt to Recruit 2,871 Teachers
The Kogi State Government is set to recruit 2,871 new teachers to address the growing shortage of manpower in public secondary schools across the state.
This was made known during the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Lokoja, where the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Kogi State Chapter, raised alarm over the severe shortfall of teachers that has stretched the education system to its limits.
ASUSS Chairman, Comrade Emejeh Ogwu Sunday, said the urgent recruitment of new teachers was necessary to restore efficiency in teaching and learning across the state.
“When 1,108 teachers were recruited in 2023, we appreciated it. But the truth remains that the system needed about 10,000 teachers then. The deficit persists, and for effective learning today, Kogi State cannot do without at least 2,871 additional teachers,” he said.
Comrade Emejeh also highlighted teachers’ welfare as a pressing concern, urging the Federal Government to stabilize the naira and reduce the cost of living. He further appealed to the state government to pay outstanding leave bonuses, harmonize pensions for retirees, and consider a revolving motorcycle loan scheme to support teachers’ mobility.
He, however, commended Governor Usman Ododo’s administration for its commitment to prompt payment of salaries, pensions, and implementation of the minimum wage, describing these as encouraging steps that should be sustained.
The ASUSS Chairman also called for improved infrastructure in secondary schools, lamenting that many learning environments were in deplorable conditions.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Onu Johnson Edoka, commended teachers for their resilience and assured them that government would not neglect their needs. He urged them to shun strike actions, noting that “Kogi has gone beyond that stage.”
Also speaking, the State Head of Service, Dr. Elijah Adeiza Evinemi, reaffirmed that the Ododo-led administration is “teacher-friendly,” revealing that a formal request for the recruitment of new teachers has already been presented to the governor for approval.
Similarly, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Senior Secondary Education Board, Hajia Habitat Suleiman, lamented that many parents have abandoned their responsibilities, leaving teachers to handle moral upbringing. She urged teachers to remain steadfast in nurturing discipline and values among students.
Former ASUSS Chairman and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour Matters (West), Dr. Ojo Ranti Matthew, expressed gratitude to teachers for their dedication and urged them to continue supporting the present administration.
The celebration ended on a hopeful note, with teachers lauded for their tireless commitment to shaping the future of Kogi State despite mounting challenges.
