Edet Ikotidem
The recent decision by the Akwa Ibom State Government to issue tenancy agreements to teachers and non-teaching staff occupying government school quarters has triggered widespread outrage, anxiety, and condemnation among education workers in the state.
The policy, implemented through the State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), directs that teachers and school employees residing in government quarters must now sign tenancy agreements recognizing the Board as their “landlord.”
A’Ibom Teachers Groan
The circular conveying the directive was signed by the Board’s Permanent Secretary, Akparawa Okon Tom, and distributed to schools across the state earlier this month.
Under the new arrangement, occupants of the quarters are required to submit letters of introduction from their school principals, alongside valid identity cards, before being issued tenancy forms.
The forms, written in legal language, stipulate that staff must agree to pay rent, maintain the structures, handle repairs, pay utility bills, and ensure the cleanliness of the premises.
However, the move has been met with widespread condemnation from teachers, who describe it as insensitive, exploitative, and unfair, given the deplorable state of most staff quarters across the state.
For many teachers, the government’s move feels like a betrayal, especially after years of neglecting the very buildings it now seeks to collect rent for.
“I spent over one million naira to fix the building before I moved in,” lamented one secondary school teacher, who requested anonymity. “When I was allocated the quarters, it was practically a ruin — no doors, no windows, no ceilings, and no water. I had to borrow money from the bank to install fittings and make it habitable. Today, I’m still paying that loan. How can the government now turn around to demand rent from me?”
Her story is not unique. Several other teachers who spoke with journalists shared similar experiences of spending personal funds to rehabilitate decaying government quarters.
Many said the buildings had been abandoned for years, overrun by weeds, rodents, and reptiles, until teachers took it upon themselves to renovate them.
“They call them government quarters, but they were just abandoned shells,” said another teacher. “There was no light, no water, and no maintenance. Now that we’ve spent our little savings to make them livable, the same government is calling us tenants. It’s heartbreaking.”
Beyond the rent issue, many teachers expressed deep frustration over what they describe as inconsistent and unfair salary practices. Several reported that since June, salaries have been irregular, with unexplained deductions appearing on their pay slips.
“Two of us are on level 14, step 6, yet our September salaries were different,” said a teacher in Eket. “Someone on level 12, who has already been interviewed for promotion to level 13, is still receiving the salary of level 10 after three tears of prmotion. The system is confusing and demoralizing. Instead of fixing these issues, the government is talking about collecting rent.”
Another teacher alleged that while the government often boasts of being prompt with workers’ salaries, the reality is that many secondary school teachers receive incomplete or inconsistent payments. “The deductions are not explained. We are just told to wait. Some teachers go for months without being paid the full amount due to them,” he said.
The situation, they say, has left many families struggling to meet basic needs, especially amid the current economic hardship and high cost of living.
Teachers and education stakeholders believe the policy is not only ill-timed but also contrary to the state government’s public image of being worker-friendly.
“This is wickedness,” one visibly aggrieved teacher fumed. “Our labour-friendly governor should not allow this. Teachers have endured too much. Instead of motivating us, they want to start deducting rent for quarters that are not even worth living in.”
According to insiders, many see the issuance of tenancy agreements as a prelude to automatic rent deductions from salaries, a move that could further erode teachers’ already meagre earnings.
A senior education officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the Board is preparing to categorize the quarters by “grade” and assign rental values accordingly. “It is not official yet, but that’s the next phase,” the officer disclosed. “Once everyone signs the tenancy agreement, deductions will likely follow. That’s why many teachers are resisting it.”
The development has sparked widespread calls for intervention from Governor Umo Eno, who is widely regarded as a pro-labour and education-friendly leader. Teachers are urging the governor to personally review the policy and stop its implementation before it leads to unrest.
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“Governor Umo Eno has demonstrated compassion and understanding in the past,” said a teacher in Oron. “We believe he will not allow this policy to stand once he gets the full picture. Teachers are the backbone of society. We should be appreciated, not punished.”
The teachers are also appealing to the Ministry of Education and labour unions to wade into the matter. They insist that the government should instead focus on improving school infrastructure, addressing salary irregularities, and enhancing welfare rather than imposing new burdens on already struggling workers.
A tour of some of the quarters in Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, and Eket reveals the depth of decay. Most of the buildings are old colonial-style structures with cracked walls, leaking roofs, and overgrown surroundings. Some have broken doors and windows, while others are completely uninhabitable.
“It is laughable to call these buildings quarters,” said a non-teaching staff member. “Most of them are not fit for human habitation. Some teachers even use their own money to buy cement and paint to patch up the walls. If anything, the government should be compensating us, not demanding rent.”
Education analysts fear that if the situation is not addressed quickly, it could lead to widespread discontent, reduce productivity, and possibly trigger industrial action. “Teachers are already burdened with poor welfare, overcrowded classrooms, and lack of teaching materials,” said one education consultant in Uyo. “Adding rent deductions to their woes is like squeezing water out of a stone.”
Observers warn that the controversy, if left unresolved, could have serious implications for the state’s education system. Already, there are reports of some teachers planning to vacate their quarters in protest, while others are considering petitions to the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) for intervention.
“If this continues, morale will drop further,” said a principal in Abak. “Many teachers may choose to live far from their schools, increasing absenteeism and affecting classroom performance. The government must think carefully about the consequences.”
Stakeholders have urged the Akwa Ibom State Government to suspend the policy and engage directly with teachers’ representatives in meaningful dialogue. They also recommend a proper assessment of all government quarters to determine their true condition before any rent policy is introduced.
“The best approach,” said a former education board member, “is for the government to carry out a renovation programme first. Once quarters are properly rehabilitated and made comfortable, rent discussions can follow. But as things stand, it is unjust and insensitive.”
