By Peace Udugba -The Daily Torch Media
Callers on Eagle 102.5 FM’s Frontline programme have urged the Ogun State Government to improve teachers’ welfare, increase remuneration and provide functional facilities in public schools, saying celebrating educators must go beyond annual ceremonies.
The demands were made on Monday, October 5, 2026, during a World Teachers’ Day discussion on the welfare, responsibilities and challenges facing teachers in Ogun State.
The programme featured the Chairman of the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Apostle Abiodun Sanyaolu, who spoke on the role of teachers in community development and ongoing efforts to improve the education sector.
A caller from Ilese-Ijebu described teachers as central to the development of society, stressing that their influence extends beyond the classroom to the character, knowledge and future prospects of children.
She described teachers as “the pillar of everything in life” and argued that their contribution to society makes their welfare a priority for government.
“The welfare of the teachers is very, very important. The government should look at it and make sure that teachers are given a good welfare system so that they will be proud of doing what they are doing,” she said.
According to her, improved welfare would not only benefit teachers but could also boost morale, strengthen commitment to the profession and contribute to better learning outcomes for students.
Ogun Citizens Want Better School Facilities
The caller also urged the government to pay greater attention to the condition of schools, stressing that investment in education should go beyond constructing buildings.
She said schools must be equipped with the facilities and materials required by teachers and students to achieve meaningful educational outcomes.
“It’s not just only the structure alone. They should put in the necessary things that are supposed to be in the school,” she said.
Her comments broadened the World Teachers’ Day debate from teacher welfare to the overall quality of the learning environment, including classrooms, instructional materials, technology and other essential resources.
‘Teaching Should Be One of the Well-Paying Jobs’
Another contributor, Olu Ogunike, called for better remuneration for teachers, arguing that the financial reward attached to the profession should reflect its importance to national development.
“Teaching should be one of the well-paying work in the country,” Ogunike said.
He argued that virtually every professional passes through the hands of a teacher, making educators responsible for building the human resources that eventually drive the economy and wider society.
According to him, the quality of a country’s workforce is closely connected to the quality of its teachers and the conditions under which they work.
The contributors’ demands also raised questions about whether existing interventions are sufficient to address the challenges confronting teachers, particularly in the areas of welfare, remuneration, workload, professional development and school infrastructure.
TESCOM Chairman: ‘We Still Have a Lot to Do’
Speaking during the programme, TESCOM Chairman Apostle Abiodun Sanyaolu described teachers as critical stakeholders in community development rather than merely classroom instructors.
He noted that every child who passes through the hands of a teacher eventually becomes part of the wider community, making educators important contributors to the social and economic development of Ogun State.
Sanyaolu said teachers help shape the moral, social and intellectual development of children, with their influence extending into the future of families and communities.
The TESCOM chairman also acknowledged that more work remained to be done in the state’s education sector while outlining reforms being undertaken by the government.
“We still have a lot to do. There is a lot that is still ongoing, and we will continue to work to ensure that the gains recorded in the education sector are sustained,” he said.
Beyond World Teachers’ Day Celebration
The discussion came as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World Teachers’ Day, providing an opportunity to assess both progress and persistent challenges in the education sector.
For the callers, however, the celebration should go beyond praising teachers for their contribution to society.
They argued that recognition must be backed by practical measures capable of improving teachers’ living and working conditions while providing students with better learning environments.
The Ilese-Ijebu caller’s emphasis on school facilities highlighted the connection between teacher welfare and the quality of education delivered in classrooms.
Better remuneration may improve morale, but teachers also require functional classrooms, learning materials, technology and other basic resources to perform effectively.
Similarly, Ogunike’s demand for better pay reflects concerns about the attractiveness and long-term sustainability of the teaching profession.
If teachers are expected to educate future generations and build the human capacity needed for economic development, the contributors argued that their compensation and working conditions should reflect the responsibility they carry.
The World Teachers’ Day discussion therefore presented two sides of the education debate in Ogun State: the reforms and interventions highlighted by government, and the expectations of citizens who believe more needs to be done.
As the state marks World Teachers’ Day, the message from the programme was clear: teachers need more than recognition on October 5; they need sustained investment in welfare, professional development, school facilities and working conditions.
For the callers, such investment would not only improve the lives of teachers but also strengthen the quality of education and help prepare Ogun State’s children for the future.
Tags: World Teachers’ Day 2026, Ogun teachers, Ogun State education, TESCOM, Apostle Abiodun Sanyaolu, teachers welfare, teachers salary, school facilities, Eagle 102.5 FM, Frontline programme, education in Ogun, Nigeria teachers
