Despite the Kaduna State Government’s approval of a ₦72,000 minimum wage, primary school teachers in the state say they have been excluded from the new salary structure, leaving them in worsening economic hardship.
Some of the affected teachers who spoke with PLATFORM TIMES described their current condition as “devastating,” disclosing that they still receive salaries as low as ₦42,000 to ₦47,000, despite recent government pronouncements.
“The situation is unbearable. We are the ones teaching the foundation of education, yet we are treated like we don’t matter,” one teacher lamented.
“Level 7 teachers are still earning less than ₦50,000 monthly. How do you expect someone to survive on that in this economy?”
According to the aggrieved teachers, many of them now rely heavily on loans just to feed their families or transport themselves to school.
“You wake up and ask yourself how to get to work, not to talk of feeding your children. Some of us are drowning in debt just to survive each month,” another teacher shared.
The teachers expressed disappointment in the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), accusing the body of turning a blind eye to their plight.
They claimed that the union has neither fought for their inclusion in the new wage policy nor engaged the government in any constructive dialogue.
They called on civil society organisations and the general public to amplify their voices, hoping the public outcry would compel the government to act.
“We are pleading with NGOs, journalists, and well-meaning Nigerians to help us reach the government. We need help. Good teachers are suffering in Kaduna,” another affected teacher said.
Efforts to get reactions from both the Kaduna State Government and the NUT leadership in the state proved abortive as calls and messages went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
The development comes weeks after Governor Uba Sani announced the state’s adoption of the new ₦72,000 minimum wage for public servants, a move which appears not to include teachers under the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) payroll.
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