Kaduna Teachers Suspend Strike
The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has called off the indefinite strike it embarked upon 10 days ago.
The union had embarked on the strike to protest the sack of 21,780 of their members who failed a competency test conducted by the state government last year.
The suspension of the strike came a week after the national President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, and other labour Union leaders across the country led a protest against the sacking of teachers and workers in the state.
The suspension of the strike was announced in a statement jointly signed by the state Chairman of the NUT, Audu Amba, and the state Chairman of the NLC, Adamu Ango, at the end of an executive emergency meeting yesterday in Kaduna.
The statement said the suspension of the strike followed the decision of the state government to give the 21,780 sacked teachers another opportunity for consideration in the ongoing recruitment of fresh teachers by the State Universal Education Board (SUBEB).
The statement read: “The state wing of the NUT, met today, January 18, 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 (Kaduna State media corporation)
“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 areas 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) programme of continuous recruitment that will give every willing teacher a chance to apply.”
He added: “The state wing of the executive council 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 union assured the state government of its support in the quest to ensure quality education in the state.
It also commended teachers and labour movements for remaining united and resolute in the struggle as well as the general public who identified with them during their struggle.
