Primary school teachers in Kaduna State have raised concerns about the financial hardship they are facing due to the failure of the state government to implement the new national minimum wage of N70,000.
In an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dated Thursday, January 23, 2025, the teachers voiced their dissatisfaction with being left out of the federal government’s directive to raise the minimum wage. The letter, which was signed by “Concerned Primary School Teachers of Kaduna State” to protect their identities, outlined the difficulties they are experiencing due to stagnant salaries.
The teachers stressed the importance of primary education to the nation’s progress and warned that neglecting their welfare could undermine the quality of education provided to children in the state.
They appealed to President Tinubu to step in and ensure the Kaduna State government implements the new wage structure. They also highlighted the need for better remuneration, consistent salary payments, and stronger accountability for local government officials tasked with distributing salaries.
The letter reads in part: “We, the primary school teachers of Kaduna State, humbly bring to your attention the severe hardship we are enduring due to the non-implementation of the new minimum wage in our state. Despite the federal government’s commendable move to raise the national minimum wage to ₦70,000, we, the teachers who are entrusted with shaping the future of our country, have been excluded from its benefits.
“Primary education is the foundation of Nigeria’s development, yet the failure to adopt the new minimum wage in Kaduna State leaves us struggling to meet basic needs and feeling demotivated in performing our duties. This neglect affects not only our personal lives but also compromises the quality of education we provide to the children in our care.
“Your Excellency, we respectfully ask for your intervention to ensure that the Kaduna State government fulfills its responsibility to implement the new minimum wage for all primary school teachers.
“We recommend the following actions:
- Immediate Implementation: Direct the Kaduna State government to implement the new minimum wage for all primary school teachers without delay.
- Timely Payment: Ensure that salaries are paid regularly to ease financial pressure and maintain a motivated workforce.
- Accountability Mechanism: Hold local government chairmen accountable for adhering to the federal directive.
- Sanctions: Impose penalties on local government officials who fail to comply with the wage implementation.
- Leadership Review: Replace any local government chairman who consistently neglects this duty, ensuring that capable and committed leaders are in charge.”
“Mr. President, your intervention will not only ease our financial struggles but also restore our faith in the federal government’s commitment to justice and fairness,” the teachers concluded.
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