Mass Sack: Kaduna Teachers Call Off Strike

File Photo: Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kaduna State has called off its indefinite strike embarked upon 10 days ago over sack of over 21,000 of primary school teachers that failed the competency test organized by the state government.

The NUT Chairman in Kaduna, Audi Anna, on Thursday announced the development after an emergency meeting of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the union.

Mr. Anna said the strike was called off because Governor Nasir El-Rufai had pledged to give the sacked teachers a second chance.

According to him, the union extended a hand of fellowship to the governor based on the decision.

The union in a statement said, “The state wing of the NUT, Kaduna State met today 18th January, 2018 to review the situation in the light of the pronouncement of the Kaduna state government which was broadcast on the state media outfit, the KSMC.

“The broadcast which is to the effect that the State government after a meeting with the interim chairman and Education Secretaries of the 23 local governments has decided to give the 21,780 teachers who did not pass the recent competency test another opportunity for consideration under the State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) program of continuous recruitment that will give every willing teacher a chance to apply.

“The State Wing Executive Council, SWEC, of NUT Kaduna commends the above decision of the governor and sees in it an opportunity to resolve the impasse between the teachers in Kaduna State and the state government, the end results of which will be an improvement in service delivery in our public schools

“In the light of the above, SWEC unanimously resolved to reciprocate the gesture of the Kaduna State Government by calling off with immediate effect the indefinite strike action embarked upon by teachers in the public schools and secondary schools in Kaduna state.

“SWEC hereby extends its hand of fellowship to the Kaduna State government and implore it to always engage the NUT in all matters relating to the implementation of service delivery in the Education sector and teachers welfare”. The teachers’ leadership also commended her members for remaining united and resolute in the struggle, and the leadership of the Labour movement in Nigeria and the NGIs and general public who identified with them during their principled struggle.”