The Sokoto State Government has been urged to urgently resolve reported salary delays, employment uncertainties and welfare concerns affecting teachers in the state as Nigeria marks the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.
The call was made by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Dan’iya, in a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi.
Dan’iya commended teachers across the state for continuing to educate children despite what he described as difficult conditions, but said Teachers’ Day should go beyond ceremonial recognition to addressing issues affecting their livelihoods and professional development.
He expressed particular concern over reports that some primary school teachers were yet to receive their September 2026 salaries, saying uncertainty over remuneration could undermine morale within the teaching profession.
“You cannot build a strong education system while the people entrusted with educating our children are worried about whether their salaries will be paid, whether their appointments will stand, or whether they will receive the training and professional support required to do their jobs effectively,” Dan’iya said.
The ADC candidate also raised concerns over reports that about 4,000 teachers had been removed from the state payroll since the current administration assumed office.
He, however, cautioned against automatically equating removal from the payroll with dismissal, urging the government to publicly clarify the status of the affected workers and explain the process being used to resolve outstanding cases.
Dan’iya also referred to the state government’s September 23 announcement of a committee to verify 3,100 newly recruited civil servants and facilitate salary payments for workers found eligible.
While acknowledging that verification exercises could be necessary to improve payroll management, he said they should not leave legitimately employed workers in prolonged uncertainty.
“Verification may be necessary for proper payroll management, but teachers and other legitimately employed workers deserve a clear timetable and prompt resolution rather than prolonged uncertainty over their appointments and remuneration,” he said.
He urged the government to ensure that the verification process results in clear decisions on the status of affected workers and that legitimate salary claims are resolved without unnecessary delays.
Beyond remuneration, Dan’iya called for sustained investment in teacher training and professional development, teaching materials, improved working conditions and clearer career progression.
He said efforts to improve education should not be measured only by infrastructure spending or budgetary allocations, arguing that the quality and welfare of teachers remained central to what students ultimately gain from the education system.
The ADC candidate also called for greater attention to universities, colleges and other tertiary institutions in Sokoto State, saying investments in infrastructure should be matched with adequate staffing and sustainable welfare arrangements.
He urged the state government to establish transparent mechanisms through which teachers and other affected workers could resolve payroll and employment complaints, alongside clear timelines for addressing outstanding cases.
Dan’iya reaffirmed his call for teachers’ welfare, dignity and professional development to form part of broader efforts to improve education in Sokoto State.
The claims concerning salary delays, payroll removals and the affected workers’ employment status were made by Dan’iya and could not be independently verified from the material available for this report.
