Delta Teachers Rebel Over Compulsory Tablet Purchase

A wave of discontent is sweeping across Delta State following a directive from the Post-Primary Education Board (PPEB) mandating that all secondary school teachers and non-teaching staff acquire ICT tablets, either through direct purchase or salary deductions. The policy, viewed as coercive and exploitative, has triggered backlash from educators, civil society groups, and education advocates who argue that it overlooks current economic hardships.

In a circular dated July 23, 2025, signed by Bazunu Aghogho Precious on behalf of the PPEB Executive Chairman, staff were instructed to present proof of ownership or enrollment in a deduction plan handled by the private vendor, TrendAfrique Solutions Ltd. Non-compliance, the memo warns, would result in exclusion from promotion opportunities.

Many teachers, already underpaid, some earning below ₦40,000 monthly due to irregular grading and outdated contracts, have described the policy as financially ruinous. “This is not capacity building, it is extortion,” said one teacher in Ughelli who asked not to be named.

The board claims that the tablets will improve ICT literacy, thanks to pre-installed educational software. However, critics argue these same apps can function on Android smartphones already owned by many teachers, questioning the necessity of new hardware. Retired school administrator and activist, Mrs. Comfort Aideyan, decried the policy as systemic exploitation. “They inflate costs and dump the burden on teachers already struggling to survive,” she said.

This is not the first time Delta teachers have been forced into similar schemes. Between 2014 and 2018, they were coerced into buying low-quality laptops through deductions, which later proved ineffective.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers continue to receive free vehicles, gadgets, and generous perks, spotlighting glaring disparities in public spending. “This is about political optics, not reform,” said a civil society voice on X. “The governor will boast of tablet distribution without admitting the teachers paid.”

Sources allege that the government had already budgeted for these devices, making the salary deductions both unethical and possibly fraudulent. Calls for an independent audit of the ICT project’s funding are gaining momentum. Local union leaders are demanding the complete cancellation of the scheme and a refund of any deductions.