The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Union of Teachers has condemned the sacking of 2,357 teachers, including the president of the NUT, Audu Titus Amba, by the Kaduna State Government over the competency test.
It noted that Amba never took part in the competency test, but boycotted it following a suit against the state government.
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Addressing reporters in Abuja Wednesday after the council meeting, Deputy National President, Kelvin Nwankwo, said Amba’s case showed that the whole concept of the competency test was arbitrary and lacking in certainty.
“The intention clearly is to intimidate the NUT president and embarrass the teachers in Nigeria. This, like other anti-labour and people policies of the Kaduna State Government, has failed on arrival. We got news for His Excellency, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai and his co-travellers to wit: power is transient,” Nwankwo said.
He said the competency test was held during the pendency of a suit before the National Industrial Court, Kaduna Division and a motion on notice filed therein seeking to restrain the state government from conducting it.
He also said the purported dismissal of 2,357 teachers was done during the pendency of another motion on notice seeking an order restraining the state government from dismissing any teacher in the public schools for not writing and or passing its competency test.