Gombe teachers decry poor pay, rising cost of living.

Teachers in Gombe State have used the 2026 World Teachers’ Day to raise concerns over poor welfare, inadequate salaries and the rising cost of living, saying their earnings are no longer enough to meet basic household needs.

The teachers said the financial pressure of food, transportation, accommodation and other essential expenses had made it increasingly difficult for them to cope despite their responsibilities in educating pupils and students across the state.

A teacher at Gombe Comprehensive Secondary School, Muhammadu Sanusi, summed up the situation by saying, “Our take-home doesn’t take us home,” highlighting the growing gap between teachers’ salaries and the cost of living.

According to him, teachers are struggling to meet everyday expenses as the prices of basic necessities continue to rise.

Another teacher, Lamido Dantiti, who teaches at an LEA school in Gombe, said the current minimum wage was still insufficient to meet the needs of workers, particularly those with families to support.

He called for better remuneration and improved working conditions, stressing that teachers should receive meaningful support rather than being celebrated only during annual occasions.

For Sambo Murtala, the challenges facing teachers extend beyond their monthly salaries, as many are also struggling to balance their professional responsibilities with the financial demands of supporting their families.

Salome Gambo, another teacher, said the economic hardship was taking a heavy toll on teachers, with rent, transportation and food consuming a large portion of their earnings.

She argued that teachers should be able to enjoy the benefits of their years of service while they are still alive, rather than being remembered only after retirement or death.

The teachers appealed to the government to improve salaries, ensure timely promotions, provide better working conditions and introduce incentives capable of restoring dignity to the profession.

They maintained that improving teachers’ welfare would not only ease their financial difficulties but could also boost morale and improve learning outcomes in schools.

The complaints came as Nigeria joined other countries to mark the 2026 World Teachers’ Day, with the teachers’ concerns drawing attention to the gap between the importance attached to education and the conditions faced by many educators.

Meanwhile, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya said his administration remained committed to strengthening the education sector through teacher recruitment, capacity building, improved school infrastructure and the provision of teaching and learning materials.

The governor also acknowledged the importance of well-trained, motivated and adequately supported teachers to the development of the state’s education system.