The Kebbi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers has dismissed a viral video alleging poor funding of education and inadequate remuneration of teachers in the state, describing it as old, edited and doctored.
The NUT said the video was deliberately manipulated to create a false impression about the performance of Governor Nasir Idris’ administration in the education sector.
The state NUT Chairman, Zaki Sarki, made the position known in a statement on Monday, accusing those circulating the video of attempting to discredit the government and incite teachers and other workers against the administration.
Sarki alleged that opposition politicians sponsored the individuals behind the video, saying the claims contained in the footage ignored what he described as significant investments in education and workers’ welfare by the state government.
He said the union remained firmly behind the governor and would continue to support policies aimed at improving the lives of teachers and other residents.
“We at Kebbi NUT are solidly behind Governor Idris, and we will continue to support him in providing dividends of democracy to the people of Kebbi State,” Sarki said.
The NUT chairman condemned the video and challenged those behind it to verify their claims before making allegations against the government.
“We therefore condemn and reject the doctored video and its entire contents. Those behind it should verify their facts before making fallacious claims against the government,” he added.
Sarki also defended the government’s record on teachers’ welfare, saying the administration had reviewed teachers’ salaries from below the prevailing minimum wage to N75,000.
He further listed the construction of mega schools across the state’s four emirates, more than 2,500 classrooms, the recruitment of over 2,000 teachers, as well as the provision of furniture and learning materials as evidence of the government’s investment in education.
According to him, attempts to portray the sector as neglected amounted to an effort to undermine the administration’s achievements.
“To drag the image of a government that has built mega schools in the four emirates, constructed over 2,500 classrooms, recruited over 2,000 teachers and provided furniture and learning aids into the mud is, to say the least, a desperate attempt to smear the hard-earned reputation of the administration,” Sarki said.
He maintained that the circulating video was designed to portray the education sector negatively while deliberately overlooking what he described as visible improvements under the present administration.
The union urged opposition politicians and other critics of the government to separate legitimate criticism from the circulation of manipulated materials capable of misleading the public.
Sarki also advised those making claims about education funding and teachers’ welfare in the state to consult available records before reaching conclusions about the government’s performance.
He said the NUT would continue to engage the government on issues affecting teachers while supporting initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education across Kebbi State.
The controversy comes as renewed attention focuses on teachers’ welfare and education funding in Nigeria ahead of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.
