The Kebbi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has rejected a viral video alleging poor funding and neglect of the education sector in the state.
The union described the footage as old, edited and doctored to create a misleading impression of the administration of Governor Nasir Idris.
Kebbi NUT Chairman, Zaki Sarki, made the position known in a statement on Monday.
Sarki accused those behind the video of attempting to discredit the state government and undermine its achievements in education.
He alleged that the footage was being circulated by individuals sponsored by opposition politicians to incite teachers and other workers against the government.
“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,” he said.
The union chairman urged critics of the government to verify their claims before making allegations about the education sector.
“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,” Sarki said.
He said the government had introduced measures aimed at improving teachers’ welfare, including a salary adjustment that raised the previous pay level to N75,000.
According to him, the adjustment was a major intervention intended to improve workers’ welfare.
Sarki also cited several education projects as evidence of increased government investment in the sector.
He listed the construction of mega schools across the four emirates, more than 2,500 classrooms and the recruitment of over 2,000 teachers.
He added that the government had provided furniture and other learning materials to schools across the state.
Sarki said the interventions should be considered when assessing the administration’s performance in education.
“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 said.
The NUT chairman maintained that the viral footage gave a distorted picture of the state’s education sector while ignoring what he described as improvements under the current administration.
He called on opposition politicians and other critics to distinguish between legitimate criticism and the circulation of manipulated materials.
Sarki further urged individuals making claims about education funding and teachers’ welfare to consult official records before reaching conclusions.
He said the union would continue to engage with the state government on issues affecting teachers while supporting policies aimed at improving education.
The controversy comes amid renewed attention to teachers’ welfare, education funding and working conditions during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day period.
While the Kebbi NUT has defended the government’s record, issues surrounding education funding and the impact of government interventions on teachers and students remain subject to public scrutiny.
