Sources said Usman declined “one mudu of maize and one mudu of millet” offered by the government as part of a relief programme for residents during Ramadan

A teacher in Kebbi State, Abduljalal Usman, has reportedly been suspended without pay for three months after rejecting a Ramadan palliative and criticising the state government.

Sources said Usman declined “one mudu of maize and one mudu of millet” offered by the government as part of a relief programme for residents during Ramadan.

Following his refusal and public criticism of the initiative, the Dandi Local Government Education Authority, under Governor Nasir Idris, took disciplinary action against him.

A suspension letter issued by the local education secretary, Kamba, accused Usman of “negligence of duty” and stated: “For negligence and defaulting to duty, the authority is hereby suspending you from duty for a period of three months.” The letter did not provide details of the alleged negligence.

Critics argue the punishment is a response to Usman rejecting the Ramadan gesture and speaking out against the state government. “Under Nasir Idris, teachers are being punished for refusing humiliation and for criticising the weaponisation of poverty,” one source said.

Others condemned the action as “biased, incompetent, and an abuse of power,” insisting that teachers deserve dignity, fair pay, and respect, not intimidation for expressing their opinions.

Observers also highlighted the irony that Governor Idris was once a classroom teacher, a background that many expected would make him more empathetic toward educators.

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