Kebbi governor to review primary school teachers salary
Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has announced plans to constitute a high-powered committee to review salary concerns and grievances raised by primary school teachers across the state.
The committee is expected to submit its report within one month.
The governor made the announcement during an interactive meeting with teachers, officials of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), education managers, local government chairmen, and other stakeholders held at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Birnin Kebbi, on Tuesday.
He said the decision was informed by complaints presented by some teachers regarding the implementation of the new minimum wage and related salary adjustments.
The governor assured the gathering that his administration would carefully examine all genuine concerns with a view to finding lasting solutions.
“As a teacher and former labour leader, I understand the concerns of teachers, and I will never ignore issues affecting their welfare. We shall set up a committee, headed by a competent professional, to review all complaints and submit its report within 30 days,” he stated.
Idris emphasized that his administration remains committed to improving teachers’ welfare and strengthening the education sector, noting that no government in Northern Nigeria has invested more in education than the current administration in Kebbi State.
During the meeting, the Governor directed all local government chairmen to publicly declare the allocations and salary commitments of their councils before the inception of his administration and compare them with what they are currently receiving, in order to determine whether salary increments had been effected.
To ensure transparency and accountability, the Governor also called on Education Secretaries and Directors of Finance of the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) to verify and testify to the figures presented by their respective councils.
Governor Idris noted that facts and verified records were necessary to address misconceptions surrounding the implementation of the minimum wage and salary structures for primary school teachers.
He assured teachers that their concerns would receive the attention they deserve, reaffirming that his administration would continue to prioritize education, teachers’ welfare, and the overall development of the state.
The Governor urged stakeholders to remain patient and constructive while the committee undertakes its assignment.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Suleiman Khalid, commended the Governor for his unprecedented investments in education, including school construction and renovation, teacher training, and welfare packages. He described the interaction as historic and a demonstration of the Governor’s commitment to engaging directly with teachers.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida, recalled that Kebbi State was among the first states in Nigeria to implement the new minimum wage.
He explained that the salary structure currently in operation was adopted after extensive consultations involving government and labour representatives.
Representatives of the teachers who addressed the gathering acknowledged the Governor’s numerous interventions in the education sector. While expressing appreciation for improvements in welfare and infrastructure, they appealed for a further review of salary disparities between primary and secondary school teachers.
