05/10/2026
WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY 2026: DAN’IYA STANDS WITH SOKOTO TEACHERS, DEMANDS URGENT ACTION ON SALARIES, EMPLOYMENT AND WELFARE
As the world marks the 2026 World Teachers’ Day, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Governorship Candidate in Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, has felicitated with teachers across Sokoto State, recognising their sacrifices, dedication and indispensable contribution to the education and future development of the state. Dan’iya said the occasion should go beyond ceremonies and commendations to confronting the difficult realities confronting teachers, including salary concerns, poor working conditions, inadequate professional development and uncertainty surrounding employment.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya expressed concern over what he described as the continuing hardship being experienced by teachers in the state, particularly reports of delays surrounding the September 2026 salaries of primary school teachers. He said that while teachers are expected to shape the future of Sokoto’s children, their own welfare cannot be treated as an afterthought. Available reporting has also documented allegations that about 4,000 teachers were deleted from the state payroll after the present administration assumed office, although the figure refers to payroll deletions and should not automatically be equated with formal dismissal.
Dan’iya further expressed concern over the situation of newly recruited workers, noting that the Sokoto State Government itself announced on September 23, 2026, the constitution of a committee to verify 3,100 newly recruited civil servants and facilitate salary payments to eligible personnel, with a Teachers Service Board representative among its members. He said that while verification may be necessary for proper payroll management, teachers and other legitimately employed workers deserve a clear timetable and prompt resolution rather than prolonged uncertainty over their appointments and remuneration.
He said the repeated reliance on committees and verification exercises must ultimately produce tangible results for teachers, adding that education cannot advance merely through policy pronouncements, ceremonies or budgetary allocations. “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. He stressed that teachers’ welfare, regular training, adequate teaching materials, decent working environments and career progression must be treated as essential components of education policy.
The ADC candidate also extended his concern to Sokoto’s tertiary institutions, saying that challenges affecting universities, colleges and other higher institutions must be addressed as part of a comprehensive education strategy. He noted that recent government announcements show that some interventions are being made in the sector, including approvals for renovation and rehabilitation projects in educational institutions, but maintained that infrastructure must go hand in hand with competent personnel, functional institutions and sustainable welfare arrangements.
Dan’iya therefore called on the Sokoto State Government to urgently address outstanding salary and employment issues affecting teachers, provide clarity on the status of affected personnel, strengthen teacher training and professional development, and establish a transparent mechanism for resolving genuine employment and payroll complaints. He reaffirmed his position that no education system can prosper without motivated and properly supported teachers, and urged all stakeholders to place the welfare, dignity and professional development of Sokoto teachers at the centre of efforts to improve learning outcomes across the state.
Signed:
Aminu Abdullahi
Media Aide to the ADC Sokoto Governorship Candidate