The on-going
battle between the Kaduna State Government and teachers in the state has taken
another turn, as the State Government has vowed to sack any teacher that is
absent from school following public schools resumption today for another
academic session.
According to
the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai,
Samuel Aruwan who released a statement today, following the indefinite strike
by teachers in the state after the state government began issuing sack letters
during the Christmas and New Year holidays to teachers, who failed woefully in
the competency test organized for teachers by the state government last year,
any teacher that is absent from work will be treated with the consequences that
pertain to absconding from duty under the Public Service Rules.
Here’s the
statement;
“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”
However
Senator Shehu Sani who reacted to the strike showdown, commended the teachers
and urged them to go on with their indefinite strike decision, as it is their
moral and constitutional duty to protect the rights of their members.
Kaduna
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