Competency test: Senator Shehu Sani supports teachers on strike as Kaduna state govt vows to sack them

The ongoing 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.