Parents of pupils at the Federal Government College (FGC) Staff School in Sokoto have called for improved welfare for teachers, describing the current monthly salary of N60,000 as grossly inadequate, particularly for educators who have spent over two decades in service.
The demand was made at the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Annual General Meeting held on Sunday, where members resolved to push for a minimum monthly salary of N100,000 and a N30,000 lesson allowance for teachers.
Speaking at the meeting, PTA Chairman Jamilu Sidi said better remuneration would boost teachers’ morale, improve classroom performance and help sustain quality education. He warned that poor welfare could negatively affect teachers’ productivity and pupils’ academic achievement.
Sidi also urged the school management to consult parents before implementing any increase in school fees, stressing that transparency and stakeholder engagement should remain central to such decisions.
According to him, the PTA has introduced an electronic payment system to enhance financial transparency, organised capacity-building workshops for teachers, provided raincoats and umbrellas for staff on duty during the rainy season, and instituted annual awards for the three best-performing pupils in the National Common Entrance Examination.
Despite these efforts, he said concerns over teachers’ welfare, financial transparency and recurring school fee hikes remained unresolved. He noted that although discussions had been held with the school management, teachers’ salaries had only increased from N55,000 to N60,000.
One of the parents, Loveth Bello, appealed to the school authorities to rehabilitate damaged access roads and strengthen collaboration with the PTA to create a more conducive learning environment.
Another parent, Sani Abdullahi Wamakko, described the current salary structure as unacceptable, arguing that teachers with more than 20 years of service should not earn as little as N60,000 monthly.
Responding, the Headteacher, Chivuzor David, appreciated the parents for their continued support, noting that the school had resolved its water supply challenges through the installation of a solar-powered borehole. He appealed to the PTA to assist with providing a solar power system for the nursery section.
Also speaking, Chairman of the School Board, Sulaiman Ibrahim, assured members that the resolutions reached at the meeting would be forwarded to the school management for consideration.
