The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Kaduna State Government fails to reverse it decision on sacked 2,357 teachers.
The NUT condemned the action by Kaduna State government describing it as altruistic .
The Union also stated that the sack of the teachers which was based on the concept of competency test was designed by the Kaduna State Government to casualize teaching profession in the State.
NUT stated these in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Abuja by it’s National President , Comrade Audu Titus Amba.
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According to the NUT President, “the National Executive Council (NEC) of our great Union in good faith had in accordance with international best practices in the teaching profession advocated that the Kaduna State Government should rather embark on continuous Teacher Training Programme, which would at the end of the day improve knowledge and service delivery by Teachers in the Public Schools of Kaduna State.
“This is what obtains in other professions such as Nursing, Medicine and Law. The very concept of competency test is an aberration and absurd having regards to the fact that the teachers in Kaduna State have prior to their recruitment in the State Public Service attended schools and institutions statutorily saddled with the responsibility of Teacher education and these institutions have certified them to be competent, fit and proper to be Teachers.
“Thereby validating the position of NUT that the intentions of the Kaduna State Government on this issue is everything but altruistic.
“The whole concept of competency test was designed by the Kaduna State Government to achieve its inglorious aim of casualization of the teaching profession in Kaduna State, otherwise, how else can one attempt a rationalization of the fact that the selfsame Kaduna State Government in the year 2018 dismissed/retired in one swoop 21,780 teachers purportedly for not passing its unilaterally and arbitrarily administered competency test and purportedly in replacement thereof recruited about 20,000 new teachers, who according to it were subjected to vigorous test and confirmed to be competent before they were recruited into the Kaduna State Public Service.“
NUT argued that “in accordance with the Kaduna State Public/Civil Service Rules, these purported 20,000 Teachers were employed on a temporary basis and placed on a ONE YEAR probationary period.
“Is pertinent to state that the Kaduna State Government’s purported Competency Test was held during the pendency of Suit No NICN/54/2021 before the National Industrial Court, Kaduna Division and Motion on Notice filed therein seeking to restrain it from conducting the said competency test.
“Furthermore, the purported dismissal of 2,357 Teachers was done during the pendency of another Motion on Notice seeking for an order restraining the Kaduna State Government from dismissing any Teacher in the Public Schools of Kaduna State for not writing and or passing its competency test.
”The action of the Kaduna State Government validates the belief by all and sundry, that it has zero level tolerance for Rule of Law and decency in public affairs, which are the hallmark of a modern State in a democratic setting such as Nigeria.”
The NUT however expressed it resolve to continually support all the teachers in Kaduna State, who have fallen victim of what it called the anti labour policies in the State.
It would be recalled that the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) dismissed 2,357 teachers who failed the recently conducted competency test.
The spokesperson of KADSUBEB Hauwa Mohammed said the board conducted a competency test for over 30,000 teachers in December 2021.
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