How a Ramadan Video Cost This Teacher His Salary and His Job

In the digital age, a Facebook post can travel faster than a school bell—and for one Kebbi State teacher, it just rang in a three-month nightmare.

Abduljalal Usman, an educator under the Dandi Local Government Education Authority, found himself at the center of a state-wide storm this week. His crime? Taking to social media to show the world exactly what “Governor’s support” looks like for the state’s teachers.

On Wednesday, Usman uploaded a video recorded in Hausa that quickly caught fire across social media platforms. In the clip, he holds up the government-issued Ramadan palliatives: one single mudu (a local measuring bowl) of rice and one mudu of millet.

“As a school teacher, this is what His Excellency has given me in the name of support,” Usman said in the video, his voice laced with the frustration of a workforce feeling undervalued.

He argued that the meager offering was an insult to the “heavy workload” teachers carry daily.

The government’s response was swift. Just 48 hours after the video went viral, Usman received a letter that effectively silenced his paycheck.

While Usman is convinced he is being punished for his political critique, the official paperwork tells a different story. The suspension letter, issued by the Office of the Education Secretary in Dandi LGA, cites “negligence and defaulting on duty” as the reasons for his three-month suspension—which notably comes with zero salary.

When reached for comment, officials at the Kebbi State Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education seemed to be playing defense, claiming they were “not aware” of the development.

For now, Usman’s classroom stands empty, leaving many to wonder: Is this a case of professional misconduct, or a blatant attempt to muzzle a civil servant who dared to ask for more than a bowl of grain?