Gov el- Rufai threatens mass dismissal as NUT begins strike

… It’s their constitutional duty to protect members’ rights – Sen Sani

Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has threatened to fire any teacher who embarks on strike as the Kaduna State Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), has directed its member to commence indefinite strike on Monday over the sacking of 21,780 public primary school teachers in the state.

The Assistant Secretary General, NUT Kaduna State branch, Adamu Anglo gave the directives in a notice of strike dated January 4, 2018.

The Daily Times recalls that the teachers were sacked for allegedly failing to score 75 per cent pass mark of the competency test conducted by the state government in June 2017.

The notice, circulated to all the union executives in the 23 local government areas of the state, indicated that a two-week ultimatum was earlier issued to the state government to reverse its decision.

According to the union, the decision has become necessary after the state government began issuing sack letters to the affected teachers after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

But el-Rufa’i has described the directive as illegal, insisting that the government would not be blackmailed into retaining unqualified teachers.

The spokesman to the governor, Mr Samuel Aruwan, in a statement made available on Monday, said that registers would be opened at schools and any teacher that is absent from work would be dealt with according to public service rules.

The statement reads in part, “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, January 8, 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.

“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 mobilising sentiment.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) has commended the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) for embarking on the strike, urging the union never to succumb to threats or blackmail.

Sani, who is perceived as Governor el-Rufa’i’s arch-rival said, “No genuine progressive would stand against the rights of unions to protest or go on strike.”

The Senator stated this on Monday in a post on his Facebook wall: ”The Teachers’ strike in Kaduna State is a welcome development. I salute the courage of the Teachers Union and the NLC for this action. It’s your moral and constitutional duty to protect and defend the rights of your members.

“You overcame abuse of power in the past; this too shall come to pass. You fought bitterly to restore democracy to Nigeria.

“You must not be intimidated by the beneficiaries of your struggle. Power is transient. Stand firm in the defence of your ideals and principles.”

He added that he was in support of the strike, adding that it is the moral and constitutional duty of the union to protect and defend the rights of its members. He advised the union to stand firm and not be intimated.