Education: A Mirror of Society: December 2014

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<div style="text-align: justify;">On 30 October 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan obtained the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential nomination form after receiving donations and pledges totalling about ₦98.165 million from different individuals and groups. The PDP governors contributed ₦22 million—the full cost of the nomination and expression-of-interest forms. (<a href="https://thenationonlineng.net/2015-jonathan-gets-n98-165m-donations-for-nomination-form/">thenationonlineng.net</a>)Less than two months later, on 20 December 2014, the governors again announced another large donation during a fundraising dinner at the Presidential Villa for Jonathan’s re-election campaign.Each of the 21 PDP governors pledged ₦50 million, bringing their combined contribution to ₦1.05 billion. The entire fundraising event reportedly generated more than ₦21 billion. (<a href="https://www.icirnigeria.org/pdp-raise-n21-billion-for-jonathans-re-election-bid/">icirnigeria.org</a>)This happened at a time of supposed austerity, when Nigerians were constantly reminded of falling oil prices and the need for governments to reduce spending.Yet, at that same period, politicians appeared to be on a spending spree.It may have been difficult to determine exactly what governors belonging to the opposition All Progressives Congress were contributing to their own party. However, the huge sums openly pledged by the PDP governors raised important questions about the sources of campaign donations and the priorities of political officeholders.The governors and their supporters might insist that the donations came from personal or privately raised funds. Still, where public officials make such large political donations while workers in their states remain unpaid, citizens have every right to ask questions.Whenever it is election season, governors seem to know where and how to raise money for campaigns. But when it is time to pay workers’ salaries and allowances, the familiar response is:<blockquote>“There is no money.”</blockquote>Several governors who made generous donations at the fundraising event had workers in their states complaining about unpaid salaries and allowances.<h2>The Situation of Teachers</h2>Benue State was particularly known at the time for disputes over the payment of workers and teachers.Primary school teachers in the state embarked on a prolonged strike over the government’s failure to implement the ₦18,000 national minimum wage. Public primary schools remained closed for about seven to eight months while the disagreement continued. (<a href="https://www.lawyersalertng.org/post/benue-of-primary-schools-teachers-strikes-and-wages">lawyersalertng.org</a>)Teachers and other workers in several states, including Abia, Plateau, Ondo and Akwa Ibom, also complained at different times about delayed salaries and unpaid entitlements.In Ebonyi State, teachers employed under a Universal Basic Education programme reportedly complained that they had not received their allowances or salaries for several months.In Niger State, the planned recruitment of additional teachers in early 2014 was quietly suspended. Whether the decision resulted solely from a lack of funds may be difficult to establish, but the cancellation reflected the low priority often given to teacher recruitment and school staffing.The contrast was difficult to ignore.Governments claimed that there was no money to employ teachers, pay salaries or improve schools, yet enormous sums could be raised once election campaigns began.It appeared that politicians were more prepared to save or raise fortunes for political activities than to meet the basic responsibilities of government.Sadly, the education sector often became an easy target.Teachers could be told stories, given promises and expected to continue working without pay. They were often treated as though demanding their salaries was an act of disloyalty rather than a legitimate request for money they had already earned.<h2>Teachers Are Not Doing the Government a Favour</h2>A teacher who goes to work every day without receiving a salary still has rent to pay, children to feed, transport costs to meet and other responsibilities.How can such a teacher concentrate fully in the classroom?How can the government demand dedication, professionalism and improved examination results from someone who has worked for months without receiving a salary?The failure to pay teachers does not affect teachers alone. It affects their families, students and the wider education system.A demoralised teacher is less likely to prepare lessons properly, purchase teaching materials or remain committed to the profession. Some may leave teaching entirely for other work that offers greater financial security.Meanwhile, many politicians do not send their children to the same public schools affected by their decisions. Their children may attend expensive private schools or institutions outside Nigeria, while the public education system they are responsible for continues to decline.Perhaps that is why they do not always feel the consequences of their actions.<h2>What Does Our Spending Say About Our Priorities?</h2>A government’s priorities are often revealed more clearly by how it spends money than by what it says in speeches.A governor may publicly describe education as the foundation of development. But when teachers are unpaid, classrooms are overcrowded and schools lack essential facilities while political campaigns receive generous funding, the real priority becomes obvious.Successful nations invest seriously in education. They do not treat the payment of teachers or the provision of school facilities as favours to citizens.Education is a responsibility of government and an investment in the future of society.If the truth must be told, Nigeria does not have an unlimited amount of time to correct these problems. A country that neglects teachers is gradually destroying the people who are expected to prepare its next generation.<h2>Update: July 2026</h2>More than a decade after this article was first written, the names of the political leaders have changed, but the problem has not completely disappeared.Nigeria’s national minimum wage was increased to ₦70,000 in 2024. However, reports in 2025 indicated that several state governments had yet to implement it fully for their workers, including teachers.Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory went on strike for more than three months over unpaid salaries and arrears. Teachers in Abia State also declared a strike over unpaid entitlements and concerns about the implementation of the minimum wage, while teachers in Taraba reportedly faced several months of salary arrears. (<a href="https://businessday.ng/news/article/unpaid-salaries-strikes-derail-nigerias-education-goals/">businessday.ng</a>)At the same time, political parties and candidates continued to spend enormous amounts on nomination forms, campaigns, rallies and other election activities.The lesson remains unchanged: whenever political leaders can find money for elections but cannot find money to pay teachers, the problem is not always the complete absence of resources. Sometimes, it is a question of priorities.Teachers should not have to beg for salaries they have already earned.Our politicians need a change of heart.</div>
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On 30 October 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan obtained the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential nomination form after receiving donati...

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