Sokoto Govt. Digitizes Schools, Raises Teachers’ Salaries, Renovates Schools – Commissioner

Sokoto Govt. Digitizes Schools, Raises Teachers’ Salaries, Renovates Schools – Commissioner

From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto

Sokoto State Commissioner, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Muhammad Ladan Ala, has declared that the basic and secondary education sector in Sokoto State has recorded unprecedented transformation under the present All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.

Prof. Ala made the declaration on Friday in Sokoto while briefing newsmen at a stakeholders’ meeting convened to unveil the achievements recorded by the Ministry since the inception of the administration.

According to him, when the administration came into power, it looked deeply at the state of education and identified teachers and students as the most important factors in the sector.

He noted that the condition of teachers before the present administration was pathetic, with many primary school teachers receiving between N10,000, N15,000 and N25,000 as monthly salary. With the implementation of the new minimum wage by Governor Ahmed Aliyu in January 2025, all those teachers earning N10,000, N15,000 or N25,000 now earn N60,000, N70,000 and above.

Prof. Ala added that since the implementation, payment of salaries has been prompt and consistent, from the 18th to the 20th of every month without fail, a development that has greatly boosted morale and productivity.

He lamented that many schools across the state were in deplorable condition with blown-off roofs, no chairs and no learning facilities. The administration, he said, has embarked on massive renovation and construction of schools across the 23 local government areas of the state through the Ministry and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) under various intervention programmes.

The Commissioner clarified misconceptions about the interventions, saying some of the programmes people think are support or grants are actually loans which the state government will repay.

Prof. Ala also disclosed that the Ministry has embarked on rigorous monitoring and evaluation to address truancy among teachers and students. Before now, he said, teachers were not going to school on time and students were also not coming, but today, teachers and principals are always in school and attendance has improved tremendously, making the system very organized and focused.

He emphasized that the present administration has demonstrated that education is its topmost priority by allocating resources above the UNESCO threshold in the 2026 budget.

He further said the Ministry has commenced the digitization of the education sector in line with global best practices through comprehensive data collection of all teachers and students in primary and secondary schools, adding that a central dashboard has been created where all the data can be accessed.

Prof. Ala acknowledged that the progress recorded did not come overnight but through deliberate planning and commitment, assuring that the administration will continue to work hard to improve the sector.

He also acknowledged concerns raised about out-of-school children in communities affected by insecurity, where many children have been forced to leave their communities, leading to destruction of education infrastructure and loss of students and teachers.

He assured that the government, in partnership with civil society organizations and development partners, is ensuring that education reaches children in troubled areas through alternative learning programmes and safe school initiatives, while also strengthening security around schools in collaboration with security agencies and local communities.

The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Sanusi Aliyu, Executive Chairman, Teachers’ Sokoto Govt. Digitizes Schools, Raises Teachers’ Salaries, Renovates Schools – Commissioner

From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto

Sokoto State Commissioner, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Muhammad Ladan Ala, has declared that the basic and secondary education sector in Sokoto State has recorded unprecedented transformation under the present All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.

Prof. Ala made the declaration on Friday in Sokoto while briefing newsmen at a stakeholders’ meeting convened to unveil the achievements recorded by the Ministry since the inception of the administration.

According to him, when the administration came into power, it looked deeply at the state of education and identified teachers and students as the most important factors in the sector.

He noted that the condition of teachers before the present administration was pathetic, with many primary school teachers receiving between N10,000, N15,000 and N25,000 as monthly salary. With the implementation of the new minimum wage by Governor Ahmed Aliyu in January 2025, all those teachers earning N10,000, N15,000 or N25,000 now earn N60,000, N70,000 and above.

Prof. Ala added that since the implementation, payment of salaries has been prompt and consistent, from the 18th to the 20th of every month without fail, a development that has greatly boosted morale and productivity.

He lamented that many schools across the state were in deplorable condition with blown-off roofs, no chairs and no learning facilities. The administration, he said, has embarked on massive renovation and construction of schools across the 23 local government areas of the state through the Ministry and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) under various intervention programmes.

The Commissioner clarified misconceptions about the interventions, saying some of the programmes people think are support or grants are actually loans which the state government will repay.

Prof. Ala also disclosed that the Ministry has embarked on rigorous monitoring and evaluation to address truancy among teachers and students. Before now, he said, teachers were not going to school on time and students were also not coming, but today, teachers and principals are always in school and attendance has improved tremendously, making the system very organized and focused.

He emphasized that the present administration has demonstrated that education is its topmost priority by allocating resources above the UNESCO threshold in the 2026 budget.

He further said the Ministry has commenced the digitization of the education sector in line with global best practices through comprehensive data collection of all teachers and students in primary and secondary schools, adding that a central dashboard has been created where all the data can be accessed.

Prof. Ala acknowledged that the progress recorded did not come overnight but through deliberate planning and commitment, assuring that the administration will continue to work hard to improve the sector.

He also acknowledged concerns raised about out-of-school children in communities affected by insecurity, where many children have been forced to leave their communities, leading to destruction of education infrastructure and loss of students and teachers.

He assured that the government, in partnership with civil society organizations and development partners, is ensuring that education reaches children in troubled areas through alternative learning programmes and safe school initiatives, while also strengthening security around schools in collaboration with security agencies and local communities.

The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Sanusi Aliyu, Executive Chairman, Teachers’ Service Board, Prof. Mustapha Namakka and the Executive Secretary, Arabic and Islamic Education Board, Alhaji Ahmed Baba Altine, among other Chief Executives of Agencies, Special Schools and Parastatals under the Ministry.

Prof. Ala reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry to sustain the tempo and deliver on the mandate of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto to provide quality and accessible education for all children in Sokoto State. Board, Prof. Mustapha Namakka and the Executive Secretary, Arabic and Islamic Education Board, Alhaji Ahmed Baba Altine, among other Chief Executives of Agencies, Special Schools and Parastatals under the Ministry.

Prof. Ala reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry to sustain the tempo and deliver on the mandate of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto to provide quality and accessible education for all children in Sokoto State.