Jigawa Govt Uncovers Teacher Paid for 14 Years Without Working
The Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has discovered that 245 teachers have been collecting monthly salaries despite abandoning their jobs, with one case involving a teacher absent for over 14 years.
SUBEB Chairperson Haruna Musa described the practice as deeply harmful to the state’s education system. He revealed that some absentee teachers had other jobs while still on the government payroll, and others hired unqualified substitutes for as little as ₦20,000 while pocketing salaries of over ₦100,000.
Out of the 245 absconded teachers, 162 have returned to classrooms after the discovery. The state government is also introducing a competency test for 10,000 teachers to identify training needs and improve teaching quality.
Jigawa faces a severe shortage of qualified teachers, with the Nigeria Union of Teachers estimating a shortfall of 32,000 educators in the state’s 3,486 schools.
This situation goes beyond payroll fraud; it represents a violation of children’s rights. Students have been denied quality education by absent or unqualified teachers, neglected by those entrusted with their learning, and deprived of public resources meant for their education.
Such neglect can also cause long-term learning gaps and erode students’ confidence in the school system. Every child has the right to consistent, qualified teaching that supports their growth and development.
