Primary and
secondary school teachers in Kaduna State, under the auspices of Nigeria
Union
of Teachers ( NUT ) have issued a two weeks ultimatum to Governor Nasir
El-Rufai to rescind his government’s decision to sack 21,780 primary teachers.
NUT said, it
has concluded arrangements to embark on an indefinite strike and shutdown
schools if the Governor fails to shelve his sack plan by the end of the two
weeks ultimatum.
The umbrella
union of primary and secondary school teachers at a press conference in Kaduna
on Monday said, El-Rufai shifted the goal-post in the middle of the game.
Chairman of
the union, Comrade Audu Titus Amba who read their open letter to Governor El-Rufai
before newsmen said, it was initially agreed by all stakeholders in the
education sector that the pass mark for the competency test be pegged at 60 per
cent, while those who are unable to score up to 60 per cent be retrained.
According to
the open letter signed by NUT Assistant Secretary General, Comrade Adamu Ango,
“That, the NUT, Kaduna State Wing as a responsible stakeholder in the
educational sector even though aware of the position of the law as it relates
to the body statutorily empowered to regulate the teaching profession
cooperated with the Kaduna State government under the mistaken believe that the
intention of the state government was altruistic, in the sense that it is aimed
at enhancing state. However, with the benefit of hindsight we now know better.
“That it is
agreed by all stakeholders in the educational sector that the pass mark for the
competency test be pegged at 60 per cent while those who are unable to score up
to 60 per cent be retrained.
“However, in
a classical display of bad faith which started as a rumour, the Kaduna State
government unilaterally and arbitrarily pegged the pass mark for the competency
test at an unprecedented 75 per cent.
“Your
Excellency, while hosting a delegation of World Bank officials, you announced to
the whole world that 21,780 teachers will be disengaged in Kaduna State Public
primary and secondary schools for not scoring up to 75 per cent in the
competency test, while 25,000 will be recruited in their stead.
“That, the
NUT, Kaduna State Wing wrote a letter to you, appealing to your conscience to
rescind the decision above, but as usual, you ignored the letter and went ahead
with your avowed determination to impose your will against the consensus of
bonafide stakeholders in the educational sector.
“The NUT
subsequently as a last resort and in the spirit of constitutional democracy,
rule of law, due process decided to approach the National Industrial Court,
Kaduna division to adjudicate on the issue of whether the Kaduna State
government has the statutory power to conduct the competency test and which
Court processes have been served on you and the office of the Attorney General.
“However,
contrary to all standards of decency in a democratic setting and in spite of
the service of Court process on the Kaduna State government, you have gone
ahead to publish on your tweeter handle, a list of teachers who purportedly
passed the competency test by scoring 75 per cent and above.
“All the
above, leaves the Kaduna State Wing of the NUT with no option other than to
serve the instant notice in compliance with the wishes of its members expressed
at the meeting of the state wing executive council held on the 6th November,
2017“, the letter read.
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