The Kaduna state government has vowed to dismiss any teacher that is
absent from school today as all public schools in the state resume for
the next academic session. This warning came on the heels of the state
chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers beginning an indefinite strike
in the state to protest the planned sack of over 21, 000 teachers that
failed woefully in the competency test organized for teachers by the
state government last year.
The state NUT Assistant Secretary-General, Adamu Anglo, in a
statement released today, said the decision to embark on an indefinite
strike became necessary after the state government began issuing sack
letters to the affected teachers after the Christmas and New Year
holidays.
In a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant, Media and
Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Samuel Aruwan and released
today, the state government warned that any teacher that is absent from
work tomorrow, January 8th, will be treated with the consequences that
pertain to absconding from duty under the Public Service Rules. Read the
statement below
It has come to the notice of the Kaduna State Government that the
state branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has declared an
indefinite strike. This is an illegal action, and will not achieve its
aim of derailing the education reforms being implemented by the
government.
The Kaduna State Government is not available to be blackmailed into
knowingly retaining unqualified teachers. Neither would it mortgage the
future of two million primary school pupils because failed teachers are
shamelessly mobilizing sentiment.
At the invitation of the Federal Ministry of Labour, the Kaduna State
Government twice met in Abuja with the officials of the NLC and the
NUT. The Governor Nasir El-Rufai personally led the Kaduna State
delegation to the first meeting. During these interactions, KDSG made it
clear that as an employer, it has every right to determine who its
employees are or can be, and the minimum qualifications they must
possess.
The Kaduna State Government wishes to inform the public that it has
instructed its Education administrators to open registers in all its
schools, starting from Monday, 8th January 2018. Any teacher that is
absent from work will be treated with the consequences that pertain to
absconding from duty under the Public Service Rules. There can be no
doubt that KDSG will take firm and decisive disciplinary action against
personnel who absent themselves from duty, including dismissal from
service.
KDSG recalls that the NUT placed primary school pupils, who are the
victims of failing teachers, in danger by pushing them into the streets
to demonstrate for the retention of bad teachers. That ruse failed. Some
union leaders are also likely to be prosecuted for assault, unlawful
procession and destruction of public property when they attacked the
State House of Assembly.
The children of the poor are the ones that attend public primary
schools. We owe them a decent standard of education, and we shall
provide it.
Signed
Samuel Aruwan
Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity
7th June 2018
