TEACHERS’ COMPENSATION PACKAGES IN NIGERIAN PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS: CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD

Abstract

Education remains the bedrock of sustainable development, and at the heart of this foundation are teachers who are architects of knowledge, character, and innovation. In Nigeria’s rapidly expanding private education sector, teachers in secondary schools play an indispensable role in shaping the future of the nation. However, the effectiveness of these educators is increasingly threatened by inadequate and inequitable compensation systems. This paper examines the multifaceted challenges hindering fair teacher compensation in Nigerian private secondary schools, including profit-driven school ownership models, economic instability, low and irregular income, poor financial management, multiple taxation, and weak regulatory oversight. These systemic barriers have led to poor remuneration, delayed salaries, low morale, and high turnover among teachers. The paper further explores the engagement of unqualified teachers, lack of career advancement opportunities, and insufficient welfare provisions as aggravating factors. The study advocates for the development of a national compensation framework for private schools, the provision of tax incentives to compliant ones, capacity building for proprietors, promotion of teacher unions, and the establishment of teacher welfare funds. In addition, strategies like, increased stakeholder collaboration, transparent financial management, and active parental engagement were proffered to address the challenges. The findings underscore that compensating teacher fairly is not merely a labor issue, it is a national priority and a strategic investment in human capital. Ultimately, the paper concludes that revitalizing the compensation structure of private secondary school teachers in Nigeria will not only uplift educators but also enhance the credibility and outcomes of the country’s entire educational system