El-Rufai Vs Teachers: Kaduna Govt To File Criminal Charges Against Protesters

Agency ReporterNovember 9, 2017

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Following protests by school children, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) against the Kaduna State government over sacking of 21,780 teachers, who allegedly failed the Competency Test organized by the government recently, the state government said it will file complaints about criminal violations of several sections of the Penal Code against union leaders who led the protest.

The Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Education, Adamu Mansur said while briefing newsmen.

He said; “The government today reviewed the situation in primary schools across the state. This review included a meeting with the Executive Secretaries of all the 23 local government education authorities. Government is satisfied that a majority of the primary schools in the state are functioning as normal.

“However, the government continues to receive disturbing reports of criminal activities being undertaken in the name of union activities. Some of these activities include the following: The NLC led thugs to vandalise the Lugard Hall premises of the Kaduna State House of Assembly. Officials of trade unions forcibly closing schools such as the Katsina Road LEA School and sending the pupils to the streets. Blockage of highways by pupils and secondary school students, at the behest of their teachers; Abdication of duty by some teachers who have left their pupils unattended.

“Security and law-enforcement agencies have the names of the individuals to be investigated for the organized actions that endangered school pupils, forcibly closed schools and attacked the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

“NUT officials were previously warned about the consequences of an illegal activity, including the unlawful use of pupils for protests, forcible closure of schools and engaging in unauthorized demonstrations.

“The shameful events at the Kaduna State House of Assembly when union thugs destroyed public property and attacked honorable members is a visible and dangerous escalation,” he explained.

The Permanent Secretary explained that the government would not allow anyone to get away with criminal activity under the cover of industrial relations.