The Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment and Orientation to Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Ibrahim Abubakar Jombali, has praised the governor’s interventions in teachers’ welfare and school infrastructure, saying his background in teaching continues to influence his administration’s priorities.
In a tribute marking World Teachers’ Day, Jombali highlighted salary improvements, extended retirement provisions, teacher recruitment and school rehabilitation as measures he said had strengthened support for educators in Kebbi.
He described Idris, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, as a governor whose experience in the classroom had shaped his understanding of teachers’ responsibilities and the challenges confronting public education.
“His story is not merely that of a teacher who became governor. It is the story of a governor who never stopped being a teacher,” Jombali said.
Teachers’ welfare and conditions of service
Jombali cited the extension of teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years and their length of service from 35 to 40 years, describing the provisions as recognition of the value of experienced educators.
He also pointed to the state’s ₦75,000 minimum wage, improvements in teachers’ remuneration and the restoration of headmaster and assistant headmaster allowances.
The adviser said better conditions of service were essential to sustaining teachers’ motivation and improving the quality of education available to children.
The Bureau Journal previously reported that a committee reviewing primary school teachers’ salaries submitted recommendations to Governor Idris on payroll administration, personnel records and working conditions.
The Nigeria Labour Congress subsequently commended the approval of consequential salary adjustments and responsibility allowances for primary teachers.
Jombali also identified additional teacher recruitment and professional development programmes as important components of the administration’s education agenda. In an earlier assessment, he discussed teacher training partnerships and development centres in Bunza and Argungu.
School rehabilitation and access to learning
According to Jombali, more than 2,000 schools have been renovated, reconstructed or furnished under the administration’s programme to improve learning environments.
He said investment in classrooms, furniture and other school facilities should accompany improvements in teachers’ welfare, arguing that educators need functional environments in which to work.
“Great teachers deserve functional classrooms. Children deserve safe and inspiring spaces to learn,” he said.
The Kebbi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers has also cited teachers’ welfare, recruitment and school infrastructure in its assessment of Idris’ administration.
Alongside those interventions, the state continues to face security challenges affecting education. The government has previously explained that temporary school closures in communities affected by insecurity were intended to protect students and education workers.
Jombali acknowledged that challenges remained but urged continued investment in educators, learning facilities and institutional support.
He said World Teachers’ Day should encourage practical commitments to education beyond annual ceremonies and congratulatory messages.
“The celebration of teachers, therefore, must go beyond ceremonial speeches and annual tributes. It must inspire a renewed commitment to investing in education, supporting educators and recognising their indispensable role in national development,” he said.
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