A school teacher in Kebbi State, Abduljalal Usman, has been suspended for three months after criticising a Ramadan palliative distributed by the state government.
Usman, who works under the state government, shared a video on his Facebook page on Wednesday expressing dissatisfaction with the food items given to teachers as Ramadan support.
In the video, recorded in Hausa, he said Governor Nasir Idris provided him with only one mudu (a local measurement bowl) of rice and millet.
“As a school teacher, this is what His Excellency has given me in the name of support,” he said while displaying the items.
The video later went viral on social media, with Usman saying the gesture was insufficient considering the workload of teachers.
Two days after posting the video, Usman announced that he had been suspended from duty for three months.
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He said he believed the action was linked to the video in which he criticised the Ramadan palliative.
According to a suspension letter issued by the Dandi Local Government Education Authority, the teacher was suspended for three months without salary over alleged negligence and defaulting on duty.
“For negligence and defaulting in duty, the authority is hereby suspending you from duty for a period of three months,” the letter read.
The letter was issued by the Office of the Education Secretary in Dandi Local Government Area.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the Kebbi State Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education were unsuccessful, as officials contacted said they were not aware of the development.
The suspension has sparked reactions online, with many Nigerians debating whether the teacher’s criticism warranted such a disciplinary action. Social media users expressed concerns about freedom of expression for public servants, while others argued that internal channels should have been used to address grievances.
Some education stakeholders have called for a review of the suspension, suggesting that constructive feedback from teachers should be encouraged, especially when it concerns welfare provisions. “Teachers are at the forefront of implementing government policies. Their voices should not be silenced when highlighting issues affecting them,” one commentator said.
Meanwhile, Abduljalal Usman has appealed the decision, stating that his intention was to draw attention to the inadequacy of the support provided and not to undermine the government. He has urged the authorities to reconsider the suspension and engage teachers in discussions about welfare improvements.
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