.Issue 2 weeks ultimatum
BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – With the Kaduna State government adamant on implementing the result of its controversial competency test, teachers in public primary and secondary schools in Kaduna State have issued a-14-day ultimatum for an indefinite strike if their members are affected by the sack order.
According to the teachers, Governor Nasiru el-Rufai’s unwillingness to shift grounds on the competency saga is a breach of trust and agreement reached between the State government and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
In a press statement by the State NUT Assistant Secretary General, Comrade Adamu Ango in Kaduna on Monday, it explained that the NUT, Kaduna State Wing is a responsible stakeholder in the educational sector and fully aware of the provisions of the law as it relates to the body statutorily empowered to regulate the teaching profession.
He however said the NUT is sadden that after cooperating with the Kaduna State government under the mistaken belief that its intentions were pure and altruistic towards enhancing the state educational system, the el-Rufai-led administration decided to move against its members in a most outrageous manner
The statement said with the benefit of hindsight, the Union now knows better given that the government spurned all the gentleman’s agreement entered into by both sides on the competency test narrative.
Maintaining that all stakeholders in the State’s educational sector had agreed to peg the competency test pass mark at 60 per cent while those unable to make the 60 per cent mark should be retrained, the NUT said it is a shame that government reneged on the agreement without any scruples.
The NUT said; “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.”
Further explaining its position on the ragging issue, thew Union said; “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 bona-fide stakeholders in the educational sector.
“The NUT subsequently as a last resort and in the spirit of constitutional democracy, rule of law, and due process decided to approach the National Industrial Court (NIC), 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.”
The statement declared that; “All the above, leaves the Kaduna State Wing of the NUT with no option other than to serve the instant notice of strike in compliance with the wishes of its members expressed at the meeting of the state wing executive council held on the 6th November, 2017”.
