A video has emerged online showing Isah Baba Bida, Chairman of Katcha Local Government Area in Niger State, confronting a teacher at Kafa Primary School over a T-shirt bearing the photograph of an opposition politician. The incident occurred on Monday morning when Bida visited the school and verbally berated Yahaya Mohammed Sakiwa, a casual teacher, over his choice of clothing. In the video, Bida ordered Sakiwa to remove the shirt and write down his name, as well as the names of other staff members who were absent from school.
The confrontation took place inside a dilapidated classroom, with Bida expressing displeasure over the condition of the school and the number of pupils present. He stated that he visited the school to obtain firsthand information about teachers wearing T-shirts bearing the name of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mohammed Nami. Bida also criticised the school's infrastructure, noting that it was in a poor state with no windows and only two pupils present when he arrived.
However, Sakiwa disputed Bida's claim that only two pupils were present, stating that the school had over 200 pupils and that the chairman arrived when children had just started coming to school. Sakiwa also revealed that Bida had reached out to him and his uncles to seek forgiveness over the incident. The local government education secretary was also intervening in the matter, according to Sakiwa.
The PDP governorship candidate, Mohammed Nami, condemned the incident, describing it as intimidation and harassment of a teacher by the Katcha council chairman over his political affiliation. Nami stressed that no teacher or public servant should be victimised for exercising their political freedom. He also expressed concern over the poor state of Kafa Primary School, citing its dilapidated infrastructure and lack of basic furniture.
Nami blamed Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago's administration for inadequate funding for education over nearly four years in office. According to Nami, the situation was reflected in an alleged 82 per cent implementation deficit in the 2025 budget, with education accounting for only 5.83 per cent of total expenditure. The state ranked 29th among Nigeria's 36 states in education funding, Nami added.
The Niger State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) cautioned teachers against engaging in partisan political activities. The union recognised teachers' constitutional right to hold political opinions but stressed that the exercise of such rights should be undertaken responsibly. NUT's state secretary, Umaru Musa Kuta, issued the statement.
The incident highlights the challenges facing pupils and teachers in communities across Niger State, including poor infrastructure and inadequate funding. The situation underscores the need for increased investment in the education sector to provide a more conducive learning environment for pupils and teachers. Key issues include the intimidation of teachers over political affiliations and the poor state of basic educational facilities.
Key points
- The Niger State LG chairman confronted a teacher over an opposition shirt.
- The incident highlights poor school infrastructure in Niger State.
- The PDP governorship candidate condemned the incident and called for increased investment in education.
