Public school teachers in Kwara State on Friday staged a protest over their exclusion from the recently approved 30% peculiar salary allowance granted to other categories of state workers, accusing the state government and their union leadership of neglect and betrayal.
One of the protesting teachers told SaharaReporters that the action was also targeted at the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) leadership, which the protesters accused of failing to defend their interests.
“We’re protesting against the NUT leadership for not representing us effectively. We’re demanding that the 30% peculiar allowance for teachers should be implemented,” the protester said.
During the protest, teachers displayed placards highlighting what they described as worsening economic hardship and unfair treatment.
Some of the messages read: “Economic hardships of Kwara teachers are escalating daily due to poor payment. Implement 30% peculiar allowance in addition to TSA for teachers now!”
Another placard read: “We are tired of living on loan procurement just to sustain life. Kwara teachers’ wage payment is far from economic reality of the country. Enough is enough!!!”
SaharaReporters learned that the teachers had earlier, on December 23, 2025, staged a similar protest over their exclusion from the 30% peculiar allowance approved for other state workers.
The aggrieved teachers reportedly converged on the NUT Kwara State Secretariat along Asa Dam Road, where they sang solidarity songs to express what they described as frustration, hardship and neglect.
Some placards carried during the protest reflected the teachers’ economic struggles, including messages stating that they were “surviving on loans.”
One of the protesters, identified as Olayinka, said the demonstration was directed at both the state government and the leadership of the teachers’ union.
“We’re protesting against Kwara NUT leadership for their inaction and complacency. Most especially, the exclusion of teachers from the 30% peculiar allowance which has been paid to other state workers but teachers were exempted,” Olayinka said.
Another teacher said the exclusion placed teachers at a disadvantage compared to other civil servants in the state.
“Yes, that we heard it has been approved but yet without the inclusion of teachers in the 30% peculiar allowance, the teachers will earn lesser than other civil servant in the state. Compare 27 percent to 30 percent,” the teacher said.
The teacher added that the 27 percent allowance being cited was not new.
“Exactly and that 27 percent is the statutory right for every teacher which had implemented for teachers in other state since 2018. Exactly. And the 27 percent will be implemented by January while others got their 30 percent this December,” the teacher said.
Meanwhile, the NUT Kwara State leadership has distanced itself from the protest, warning that it neither authorised nor endorsed the action.
In a statement signed by the State Chairman, Comrade Yusuf Wahab Agboola, and the Deputy Secretary-General, MONI Mike Modesty Itua, the union said: “This is to inform the general public that the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Kwara State Wing and its leadership have not ordered/authorised/directed public schools’ teachers in the state or any other persons or group, to embark on protest(s) against any institution, individuals or the Government of Kwara State in any guise.”
The union further warned: “Arising from the above, anyone or group that goes on a public protest in Kwara State in the toga of representing the public schools’ teachers in the state does so at their own peril.”
The NUT leadership also praised the state government for approving teacher-related allowances.
“Finally, the NUT Kwara State Wing sincerely appreciates the Government of Kwara State under the leadership of Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq for the thoughtful approval of Teachers Specific Allowances (TSA) of 27.5% and 21% respectively in fulfillment of the Union’s demand,” the association said.
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