The Federal Government has introduced a new National Teachers’ Policy together with its implementation guidelines, aimed at improving teacher quality, strengthening professional standards, and enhancing continuous development across the sector.
Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, presented the documents in Abuja, alongside the newly developed national policy on Drug and Substance Abuse in Schools.
During the unveiling, Alausa noted that the latest policies signal a shift in Nigeria’s education sector from producing policies to ensuring that they are effectively implemented. He explained that the ministry has now adopted an 80 per cent implementation and 20 per cent policy development approach in line with global best practices.
He stressed that education reforms must begin to show measurable results across all states and commended partners such as UNESCO and UNICEF for their consistent support to Nigeria’s education system.
Alausa explained that the newly released policies would improve existing ones or provide guidance in areas where none previously existed. He emphasised that policy development represents only a small portion of the work, saying, “Implementation is the heart of what we do, and the commissioners will drive this work, while the federal government will provide the technical support and resources required.”
He stated that the National Teachers’ Policy, the first of the three documents presented, is intended to raise the standard of teachers, enhance their skills, and expand professional development opportunities.
The Minister added that the government has accelerated the digitalisation of teacher training and will soon introduce a digital platform dedicated to continuous professional development. He further noted that efforts are underway to ensure that all teachers in public schools receive certification from the Teacher Registration Council.
Alausa said the second policy document, which focuses on Drug and Substance Abuse in Schools, was created to tackle the growing cases of drug misuse among students in both secondary schools and tertiary institutions. He described it as the first national policy and implementation guide on drug abuse in Nigeria’s school system.
He explained that the document includes provisions for counselling and behavioural support but maintained that persistent offenders would face sanctions. Alausa added, “We must protect our youth. Addiction destroys lives, and President Bola Tinubu believes strongly in the capacity of Nigerians.”
Also speaking at the event, Lawal Olorungbebe, the Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, promised full compliance with the new policies. He pointed out that while policies originate at the federal level, their execution lies with the states.
He noted that several implementation steps could easily be incorporated into the 2025 project plans of states that have not yet concluded theirs. Olorungbebe assured that state commissioners remain firmly committed to achieving tangible outcomes.
“We’ll do our best to ensure that every part of these policies is well implemented. We are strategic, decisive, and deliberate. We will do everything we can,” he said.
