The Kaduna State Government has instructed its education administrators to open registers in all its schools, starting from tomorrow (Monday) and declare any teacher absent from work as having absconded from duty under the Public Service Rules.
The state government in a statement by Samuel Aruwan, senior special assistant to the Kaduna governor, said it will take firm and decisive disciplinary action including dismissal from service against those that absent themselves from duty.
He said, "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. ‘
The government explained that at the invitation of the Federal Ministry of Labour, it met twice in Abuja with the officials of the NLC and the NUT and the delegation was led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai to the first meeting.
It explained that during the interactions, the Kaduna government 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.
"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 government stated.
The Kaduna government reminded the teachers that it is the children of the poor that attend public primary schools saying it owes them a decent standard of education, and shall provide it.
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