Governor Nasir El-Rufai has told the union that its strike can’t return the 21,780 sacked teachers to work.
A statement by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, stressed that the government will not allow the “selfishness” of a tiny minority ruin the future of two million children.
The statement reads: “The Kaduna State government hails the teachers who reported dutifully to their posts. Though NUT officials tried to unlawfully prevent teachers from working, many defied this intimidation.
“The government is collating reports from its Education Administrators and all teachers who absented themselves from work will face the severest penalties applicable in the public service rules.
“Across the state, the illegality of the NUT’s strike action is being compounded by physical attempts to frustrate those teachers who wish to work. No law permits any worker to tamper with another’s right to work.
“The government is resolute in its determination to protect the future of the children of the poor. Ordinary citizens are entitled to expect public primary schools to deliver a decent standard of education. At least, two million pupils are enrolled in public primary schools and their interests come first.
“The government is delighted to inform the public that marking of scripts of the 43,000 applicants for teaching positions is now concluded. The recruitment process to inject 25,000 qualified teachers into our public schools will now move to the next phase.
“The Kaduna State government will not allow the selfishness of a tiny minority ruin the future of two million children.”