NLC condemns mass sack of teachers in Kaduna State

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC ) on Tuesday condemned the moves by the Kaduna State Government to sack about 22,000 teachers who scored below 75 per cent in a competency test.

The labour union also accused the Kaduna government of sacking the teachers so that it could access a loan from the World Bank.

The union stated this on Wednesday while expressing solidarity with teachers in the state who began an indefinite strike on Monday over the sack of their colleagues.

The Kaduna government, as part of its education reform in the state, said it wants to sack incompetent and unqualified teachers. The teachers will be replaced by competent graduates appointed through a transparent process, the state government has repeatedly said. President Muhammadu Buhari has since declared support for the reform efforts.

On the proposed loan, Mr. El-Rufai said the state was granted the loan by the World Bank because it merited it.

“We have healthy Fitch ratings B” Credit Rating with Stable Outlook. The World Bank checked our laws, our accounts and our performance, they are convinced we merit their support”, he said.

However, in a statement on Tuesday by its president, Ayuba Wabba, the NLC said it condemns the sack of the teachers and thousands of other workers by the Kaduna government.

Mr. Wabba said the NLC will commence a series of actions with the first phase of protests in Kaduna on January 11 to constitutionally defend the rights of the affected workers in the state.

He said, “Having exhausted all processes aimed at constructive engagement with the state government, it is clear that El-Rufai has to be stopped by all means with all means lawful for the sake of Kaduna State and Nigerian people. ”

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )