Teachers’ Sack: Kaduna NUT Threatens Showdown With Gov el-Rufai

…Rejects competency test

BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – Kaduna State chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) says an industrial action is imminent in the State if the Governor Nasir el-Rufai-led government insist on sacking its member for allegedly failing the so-called competence test administered on them.

The NUT’s threat comes on the heels of approval by the Kaduna State Executive Council to recruit about 25,000 primary school teachers across the State. 

The Union has frowned at the purported competence test administered by the State Government on primary school teachers last June in which over 50 percent of them reportedly failed, with government vowing to recruit new teachers as replacement.

Reports said the test was pegged at Primary 4 level to examine the teachers’ proficiency in literacy through reading, writing and simple calculations.

However, in a media briefing on Thursday, the State NUT Chairman, Audu Amba said rising from their State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, the Union resolved to down tools should the Governor el-Rufai’s administration make good its decision to replace the said teachers.

Amba described the alleged test by the State government as totally unprofessional, pointing out that the only competent body to test teachers is the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

“We have resolved that by this exam that was given to our teachers, if any teacher is relieved of his appointment, NUT may not guarantee the industrial harmony with the government of Kaduna State.

“It is with pain that we are taking this decision, while appreciating the concerns of the State government to uplift the status of teachers.

“We have discussed with the State government to let it understand that teaching profession is not like other profession or industrial machines that you open and close at will”, the NUT said.

According to the Union Chairman, “It will do us a great harm if 21,780 teachers are relieved of their jobs. They were not tested based on professionalism or on what they studied.

“The proficiency test can only be recognised if it is conducted by TRCN. What we are receiving today is not what we agreed with government.”

The NUT Chairman warned that the el-Rufai-led government “will be setting us back 20 years if 22,000 teachers are relieved of their jobs, adding; “I cannot imagine where there will be replacement. The test was not in conformity with what is expected on how teachers are tested”.

Meanwhile, with Kaduna State Executive Council’s approval for 25,000 fresh primary school teachers to be employed, recruitment notices have already been advertised by the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

The notice stated thus: “This time around, there would be standardized tests for the recruits and a further training programme before the new teachers take over the classrooms.”