Zamfara Teachers Decry Wage Disparity as Cleaners Outearn Educators

Primary school teachers across Zamfara State have raised alarm over a disturbing salary disparity that sees cleaners without any formal education earning more than qualified teachers. This injustice has sparked widespread frustration among educators who are now struggling to survive on meager wages while watching less qualified personnel receive better pay.

The crisis stems from the state government's implementation of a new ₦70,000 minimum wage policy. Shockingly, cleaners at Grade Level 03 with no educational certificates now take home between ₦64,000 and ₦70,000 monthly. Meanwhile, teachers with diplomas, NCE qualifications, or university degrees - who are placed on higher Grade Levels 07 to 09 - earn extremely less, with some receiving as little as ₦61,900 per month.

This glaring pay imbalance has forced many teachers into extreme hardship. Several educators have reportedly resorted to menial jobs like motorcycle taxi operations (kabu kabu) just to feed their families. A veteran headmaster who spoke to The Spectacles on condition of anonymity confirmed the dire situation, stating that teachers have become the worst-paid civil servants in Zamfara State.

The controversy intensified following recent report by Punch News Paper that the state government allocated billions of naira to education in its 2026 budget' which titled " Zamfara Education Guzzles Billons". This revelation has drawn sharp criticism from citizens and education advocates who question why teachers remain grossly underpaid despite the massive education budget.

Education stakeholders are now urgently appealing to Governor Dauda Lawal to address what they describe as a "grave injustice" before it completely destroys morale in the teaching profession. They warn that the state's declaration of a "state of emergency" in education rings hollow when those tasked with implementing educational reforms can barely survive on their salaries.

With the quality of education in Zamfara hanging in the balance, teachers are demanding immediate salary adjustments that properly reflect their qualifications and the critical nature of their work. Many fear that without prompt government intervention, the state's education system may collapse entirely, leaving an entire generation of children without proper instruction.

The situation has become a litmus test for the administration's commitment to education reform, with all eyes now on the government's response to this growing crisis.