A wave of reactions has followed the ongoing teacher shortage in private schools across the state, attributed to the recent recruitment drive by the Seyi Makinde-led administration and the new minimum wage increase.
The state government’s decision to raise the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦80,000, set to take effect this month, has sparked widespread debate.
While public-sector employees celebrate the long-overdue adjustment, private sector employers, particularly private schools, are grappling with its implications.
Teachers and other staff in private institutions are expected to demand commensurate salary increases, putting these schools under significant financial strain.
Private school administrators have expressed concerns over the dual challenge of losing staff to government schools and managing the financial demands of salary adjustments.
Many teachers are opting for government employment, lured by better pay and job security, exacerbating the staffing challenges faced by private schools.
Rev. Lawrence Obilor, a private school administrator, described the situation as a “crisis point” for private institutions.
“The minimum wage increase is well-deserved for public servants, but it has left private schools struggling. Parents are already finding it difficult to pay the current school fees, so raising salaries will be a tough balancing act for us,” he stated.
Another administrator, Mr. Olusegun Odunaiya, acknowledged the positive impact of the wage increment on labor mobility and teacher welfare but highlighted its unintended consequences for private schools.
“While we applaud the government for this necessary step, private schools are now in a tight corner. We risk losing more staff to government recruitment unless measures are put in place to support private education providers,” he noted.
Observers have called for innovative solutions, such as public-private partnerships or government subsidies, to ease the burden on private schools. Without such interventions, the sustainability of many private schools and the broader educational system could be at risk.
