Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory have called on the FCT Administration to establish a dedicated housing scheme for educators, saying the high cost of accommodation in Abuja is putting increasing pressure on their welfare and morale.
The appeal was made by the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), FCT Chapter, during the joint national celebration of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day in Abuja.
The FCT chairman of ASUSS, Julius Ogundiran, said the housing challenge had become a major concern for teachers despite the prompt payment of salaries by the FCT Administration.
He said some teachers were being forced to travel long distances from neighbouring states to their workplaces because they could not afford accommodation within the Federal Capital Territory. Others, he said, had resorted to sleeping in school classrooms.
“Most of our colleagues, even in Garki here, are coming from Suleja or Abaji, and some are even sleeping in classrooms because they can’t afford houses in town,” Ogundiran said.
He urged the FCT Administration to either construct dedicated housing estates for teachers or make subsidised land available to them across the six area councils.
According to Ogundiran, providing housing support would improve teachers’ welfare and help them perform their responsibilities more effectively.
He said teachers were not politicians and did not have alternative sources of revenue, stressing that government intervention was necessary to address the accommodation burden.
“If they can provide housing estates for teachers, we will be more motivated and well-equipped to perform our duties,” he said.
High accommodation costs affect teachers
Ogundiran acknowledged the ongoing efforts of the FCT Administration in the education sector and specifically noted that teachers’ salaries were being paid promptly.
However, he said the shortage and high cost of housing remained a significant impediment to teacher welfare.
The union’s position was that housing support should form part of wider measures to improve the working conditions of teachers in the territory.
The appeal comes as housing affordability remains a major challenge for workers in Abuja, where accommodation costs have continued to place pressure on household incomes.
For teachers living outside the FCT, the cost of commuting also adds to the financial burden associated with working in the capital.
Ogundiran linked better teacher welfare with improved educational outcomes, arguing that teachers who have adequate living conditions would be better positioned to carry out their responsibilities.
“If the government stands with the teachers, the teachers will be strong. If the teachers are strong, education will be strong. If education is strong, the nation will be strong,” he said.
He also referred to the common expression that the reward of teachers is in heaven, saying teachers should be able to enjoy better conditions during their working years.
Teacher raises concerns over welfare
Also speaking at the event, Grace Philip, a teacher at Junior Secondary School, Tungan Maje, expressed concern over what she described as the marginalisation of teachers.
“In everything they are doing in this country, teachers always come last,” she said.
Philip also raised concerns over delays in the promotion of FCT teachers and called on the authorities to pay greater attention to the challenges facing educators working at the grassroots.
The concerns raised by the teachers extend beyond accommodation to other aspects of employment and professional welfare.
FG reaffirms commitment to teachers
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving teachers’ welfare, professional development and funding for education.
Bagudu, who was represented by an official of the ministry, Mrs Kikelomo Ogundele, described investment in teachers as an important investment in Nigeria’s future.
He said no structural or policy reform in the education sector could succeed without well-trained, motivated and adequately supported teachers.
According to him, teachers play a central role in developing human capital and preparing young Nigerians to contribute to the country’s development.
“They do far more than transmit knowledge; they shape characters, nurture talents, inspire ambition, and prepare young people to contribute meaningfully to society,” Bagudu said.
The chairman of the occasion, Oluwaseun Falaye, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, also called on leaders in educational institutions and workplaces to promote ethical conduct, transparency and accountability.
Falaye, who was represented by the Executive Director, Administration, Samaila Abdul, said teachers’ contribution to nation-building went beyond classroom instruction.
He said effective leadership required integrity, accountability, fairness, responsibility and discipline.
The event therefore highlighted housing and broader welfare concerns affecting teachers, with ASUSS urging the FCT Administration to consider dedicated housing estates or subsidised land as part of efforts to improve teachers’ living and working conditions.
