Isah Baba Bida, the Chairman of Katcha Local Government Area in Niger State, has drawn public criticism following the circulation of a video showing him confronting Yahaya Mohammed Sakiwa, a teacher at Kafa Primary School, over a T-shirt featuring an opposition political figure.
The video, recorded inside a dilapidated classroom, shows the council chairman, dressed in a suit, confronting the teacher and ordering him to remove the T-shirt.
The chairman reportedly visited the school on Monday morning and verbally berated the teacher over his choice of clothing.
In the viral video, Bida said he visited the school to obtain firsthand information about teachers wearing T-shirts bearing the name of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Mohammed Nami.
He 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.
“I have an interest in this particular primary school. Who asked you to wear this uniform? A teacher wearing an opposition uniform. Write your name and the names of other staff who are absent from the school, and you should remove this shirt,” the chairman said.
He also expressed displeasure over the condition of the school and the number of pupils present when he arrived.
“We are in Kafa Primary School where Kafa stakeholders are criticising the government that their school is broken with no windows, no children, nobody in the school. I only met a teacher in the school and two pupils who don’t even know their left from right. They don’t know the name of their school; they don’t even know their names. I came here for a reason, and I have gotten my results,” he said.
Dilapidated school infrastructure
Beyond the confrontation, the video highlights the poor state of the school’s infrastructure, raising concerns about the condition of basic educational facilities in parts of Niger State.
The classrooms appear dilapidated, with damaged ceilings and missing windows, while the walls and interior surfaces show signs of deterioration.
The condition of the facilities points to the need for maintenance and rehabilitation to provide a more conducive learning environment for pupils and teachers.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Sakiwa, a casual teacher at the school, said the council chairman had reached out to him and his uncles to seek forgiveness over the incident.
He also disputed the chairman’s claim that only two pupils were present when he visited, saying the school had more than 200 pupils.
“What the chairman said, that there were no pupils in the school, was incorrect. He came in the morning when children had just started coming to school.
“We have over 200 pupils in that school. You know it is a rural area. Some children go to the farm early in the morning before coming to school. That was why he did not meet them.
“He had approached my uncles for forgiveness, and the local government education secretary was also intervening in the matter,” Sakiwa said.
Condemnation
Reacting to the incident, the PDP governorship candidate in Niger State, Mohammed Nami, condemned what he described as the intimidation and harassment of a teacher by the Katcha council chairman over his political affiliation.
In a statement issued by his media directorate, Nami described the alleged action as “an abuse of public office and an attempt to undermine citizens’ democratic rights.”
He stressed that “no teacher or public servant should be victimised for exercising their political freedom.”
Nami also expressed concern over the poor state of Kafa Primary School, saying its dilapidated infrastructure and lack of basic furniture highlighted the challenges facing pupils and teachers in communities across the state.
He blamed Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s administration for what he described as 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 and the state ranking 29th among Nigeria’s 36 states in education funding.
He further argued that the allocation fell below the internationally recommended benchmark of 15 to 20 per cent of total public expenditure for education, underscoring the need for increased investment in the sector.
The PDP candidate called on elected officials and government appointees in Niger State to respect public workers’ right to political affiliation and refrain from intimidating or victimising them over their political choices.
He reaffirmed his commitment to an education system that protects teachers’ dignity, expands access to quality learning and gives every child, regardless of location or background, a fair opportunity to succeed.
However, the Niger State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) cautioned teachers against engaging in partisan political activities.
In a statement issued by its state secretary, Umaru Musa Kuta, the union said it recognised teachers’ constitutional right to hold political opinions but stressed that the exercise of such rights should be undertaken responsibly.
What You Should Know
This incident has sparked a major debate across Niger State concerning the political rights of public servants and the alarming state of public infrastructure in rural schools. While local authorities argue against partisan displays in schools, opposition figures and union members are raising concerns about intimidation and the deteriorating condition of basic educational facilities.
- Potential Concerns: Civil servants face growing fears of political victimisation and harassment for expressing personal freedom of association. Additionally, the viral video highlights severe infrastructural decay and lack of proper funding in rural public schools across the state.
- Positive Impact: Public exposure of the dilapidated school facilities has brought immediate attention from community stakeholders and education advocates, mounting pressure on the government to address funding gaps and improve learning conditions for students.
