Education Minister visits centre validating 51,000 striking teachers’ data; first tranche of arrears due October 16

Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu has visited a data processing centre where the government is validating the records of teachers affected by the ongoing pre-tertiary teachers’ strike.

The exercise is part of measures being undertaken by government to resolve outstanding concerns raised by the teacher unions and facilitate the payment of salaries owed to eligible teachers.

Haruna Iddrisu said government expects the validation of records for at least 51,000 teachers to be completed by Monday, October 5, 2026.

He explained that once the exercise is completed, the validated data would be submitted to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to begin arrangements for supplementary payments.

“At least 51,000 would have been ready then we can direct the Controller and Accountant General through the Minister of Finance to get a supplementary payment for the first leg of it,” he said during his visit on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

The Minister also questioned the continued reliance on manual processes for validating teachers’ records, arguing that the exercise could be made more efficient through technology.

“We must find a way of doing this better. Why are we doing manual? Why should teachers at this age be filling forms? We can do so by using an IT infrastructure system,” he said.

“I will raise questions about this and I think that we must find a better way of doing it than this manual,” he added.

The Minister said the first tranche of the outstanding payments is expected to be processed by October 16, following the completion and submission of the validated data.

He also reiterated government's commitment to placing teachers who have been promoted on their new grades by October 30, saying failure to meet that deadline would be inexcusable.

According to the Minister, once the validated data is submitted, the Controller and Accountant General will be directed to make arrangements for the first tranche of the outstanding payments, with the initial payment expected to be processed by October 16.

He urged officials handling the exercise to work with speed and accuracy, stressing that the validation is critical to ensuring that eligible teachers receive what is due them.

Mr. Iddrisu also appealed to the striking teachers to consider calling off the industrial action, while acknowledging that their concerns over a collective agreement and new conditions of service remain important issues that government must address.

He further called for mutual respect and good faith between government and the teacher unions as negotiations continue.