Kebbi NUT dismisses viral video on poor education funding as doctored

The Kebbi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers has dismissed a video circulating on social media that alleges poor education funding and inadequate teacher remuneration in the state.

The union described the video as old, edited and doctored to create a false impression about the state government’s performance in the education sector.

The state NUT Chairman, Zaki Sarki, in a statement on Monday, said the video and the claims contained in it were misleading and amounted to an attempt to discredit the administration of Governor Nasir Idris.

According to him, the video was being circulated by individuals allegedly sponsored by opposition politicians seeking to incite teachers and other workers against the government.

Zaki said the allegations were particularly misleading because they failed to acknowledge what he described as significant interventions by the Idris administration since assuming office.

He said, “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.

“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.”

The NUT chairman said the state government had improved teachers’ welfare by reviewing salaries from the previous level of below the current minimum wage to N75,000, describing the development as a major intervention in workers’ welfare.

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He also cited the construction of mega schools across the four emirates, the construction of more than 2,500 classrooms, recruitment of over 2,000 teachers, and provision of furniture and other learning materials as evidence of government investment in education.

Zaki said, “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.”

He argued that the circulating video appeared designed to portray the education sector as neglected while ignoring what he described as visible improvements recorded under the present administration.

The union urged opposition politicians and other critics of the government to distinguish between legitimate criticism and the circulation of manipulated materials capable of misleading the public.

Zaki further appealed to those making claims about education in the state to verify available records before drawing conclusions about the performance of the government.

He said the NUT would continue to engage with the government on issues affecting teachers while supporting policies aimed at improving the quality of education across the state.

The controversy comes amid renewed public attention on teachers’ welfare and the state of education as Nigeria joins other countries to mark the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.