iDeemlawfulKwara public school teachers have criticised what they described as their unfair exclusion from the 30 per cent peculiar allowance approved for core civil servants in the state, accusing the administration of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of acting unjustly.
The reaction followed the governor’s recent approval of a 30 per cent peculiar allowance for workers on the consolidated public service salary structure (CONPSS) in the core civil service, ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals across the state.
In a statement issued on Monday, the chief press secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, disclosed that the governor also approved a 27.5 per cent Teachers Specific Allowance (TSA) for teachers statewide, to take effect from January 2026.
The statement clarified that the 27.5 per cent TSA applies to Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)-certified teachers under the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) on CONKWESS I, while a 21 per cent allowance applies to teachers without TRCN certification.
“The Governor again acknowledged the indispensable role and commitment of the teachers to the education sector, commending them for their efforts in nation building,” the statement added.
Despite the TSA approval, many teachers who reacted on official government social media platforms protested their exclusion from the 30 per cent peculiar allowance granted to core civil servants, arguing that the TSA should not bar them from benefitting from the allowance.
“Why does the government act as if paying workers is a favor and not a duty? TSA is strictly for teachers, yet the so-called 30% increment is for all civil servants—except teachers. Why? Who exactly are the “core civil servants” if teachers, the backbone of every profession, are not counted? So tell us—who educates the citizens if not teachers? You cannot neglect the hands that build the nation and expect progress. Treat teachers with dignity. Stop the injustice. We deserve far better than this,” Akinbinu Oladayo, a teacher, wrote.
Another teacher, Issa Jamiu, said, “As good as this news, one thing I pinpointed is the fact that there’s inferiority complex to the teachers welfarism, it’s so pathetic that the other time government approved peculiar allowance for other Kwara State employees, it was broadcasted as for core workers which means teachers are not, no problem, posterity will judge everybody.”
“What is happening to their peculiar allowance? The exclusion of kwara teachers in the peculiar allowance is nothing but a grievous injustice to the intellectual sector that needs to be corrected by the government.
“Sometime ago, they were classified as Essential Workers while other essential workers were rewarded and they were intentionally excluded. The same is still playing out now. TSA allowance is their statutory allowance which its implementation is long overdue,” said Lawal Saka, a teacher.
Another teacher, Shola Sidiq, wrote, “It is high time the Kwara teachers looked forward to responsible and selfless ones among them that would speak their language, understand their plight, and look at their affairs from the grassroots level.
“To be sincere, Kwara State workers have always been unlucky right from the onset, especially the so-called teachers. All these hunters I’m seeing and those in ambush are just capitalists who will only satisfy their pockets while the poor keep getting poorer.”
“This kind of news is not pleasant at all. The TSA that was supposed to have been implemented since former Gov. Bukola Saraki’s era. 30% peculiar allowance is our right for all the civil servants in the state including the teachers. While doing selective implementation? and teachers are left behind. This is really bad,” Bakare Ganiyu lamented.
Gazali Elwure also complained, “It is unfortunate teachers are being treated like this. What is the essence of taking public school students to represent the state in the debate, winning laurels but neglecting those who teach them to achieve the glory? For not including teachers in this peculiar allowance especially with the approach of this yuletide, a lot of teachers are not happy with this development.
When contacted for comments, Mr Ajakaye explained that the peculiar allowance was meant strictly for the core civil service, noting that teachers and doctors were excluded.
“Although TSA was approved circa 2009 in Kwara following NGF’s approval nationwide, it died in 2012 in the wake of the 18K minimum wage. When the minimum wage was implemented in 2012, the TSA wasn’t upgraded along with it.
“So, it became meaningless. HE Ahmed, in 2013, spread 3000 across board for teachers but it clearly didn’t restore the 27.5% TSA. This continued thru subsequent minimum wage negotiations,” the CPS told Peoples Gazette on Monday.
Mr Ajakaye added that the governor’s action was meant to restore the 27.5 per cent TSA in line with current wage realities, noting that “the TSA applies to the teachers the same way CONHESS/CONMESS apply to the health professionals while peculiar allowance applies to specific segments of the service (a carryover from FG and as applicable in many states).”