Strong indications have emerged over plans by the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to sack the civil servants if elected as a governor in the 2023 polls.
In May 2021, Kwara State Government recruited 4,701 including 50 first class graduates for teaching jobs in both TESCOM and UBEC categories.
The exercise overseen by independent groups, experts, and NUT was adjudged thorough, the fairest and most transparent recruitment process in the state.
The development followed the layoff of 2,414 teachers in the employ of SUBEB over allegations bordering on incompetence, faulty recruitment process, and nepotism into service in December 2020.
The workers were engaged by the administration of ex-governor Abdulfatah Ahmed a few months before the end of his tenure.
Eventually dubbed the ‘sunset’ workers, findings revealed many of them were primarily engaged to settle the party members of the outgoing government in the state.
During the new exercise, some ‘sunset’ workers who had reapplied were caught and arrested by the police for examination malpractices, trying to game the system.
Along with the renovation of schools, prompt payment of teachers’ salaries, and introduction of KwaraLEARN, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been praised at various times by stakeholders for the bold steps in revitalising the education sector in the state.
This may be reversed.
As directed, some of the sunset workers registered for, participated in the new recruitment, and were reappointed in May 2021.
Six months after, Kwara was announced the winner of the presidential debate competition defeating Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos state.
However, some of the sunset workers still stuck to the streets for months protesting their disengagement from service.
It was gathered that some of them didn’t reapply due to a lack of required certificates, incompetence, and, or, couldn’t make it out of the recruitment process.
As weeks turned to months, they became a pressure group of blackmail against the government on radio and social media.
Stakeholders have severally expressed concerns that there public conducts were political and indecent for people seeking to raise children with sound values and morals in society.
Although quite early, these concerns might have come to pass.
The gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Shuaibu Yaman Abdullah has thrown his weight behind the conduct of the sunset workers, promising to reinstate them once elected.
Speaking for the guber candidate over the weekend, Abdullah Kayode GreatKay, a member of the PDP reconciliation committee, disclosed that reinstatement of sunset workers was a priority to the party.
‘Education in peril’
Incidentally, people are concerned that Yaman’s decision panders to the base sentiments of politics, instead of prioritising education — the bedrock of sustainable social development.
“I thought Yaman would prioritise education. But with that statement, he is shown he is more interested in politics. So, he will reinstate people who were not competent to teach just because they were employed by Maigidia, one of his bosses now, two years after their sack. So, the feelings of 2,400 teachers, or ego of Abdulfatah Ahmed, come first over the future of Kwara children? Disappointing,” Hajia Rukayat Ahmed, a lecturer based in Ilorin, said.
“I don’t see any sense in reinstating the sunset workers who either didn’t reapply or failed the new exercise. We all saw the error-riddled placards they carried during their protests and the voice notes from their Whatsapp groups. Haba. Most of these people were not competent. How and why will a sane person employ them to teach our children? This is not a good idea,” Mrs Kehinde Iyabo, trader, lamented.
“I have read that article/statement all over again. I think what Yaman might be saying is that he will also sack the newly recruited, qualified teacher by this administration if Bukola or Ahmed asks him to sack them. Can govt afford salaries of 2000 teachers plus 4,701 at a go without affecting infrastructural projects? Will they be taken as workers or teachers? Will he conduct new exams for them to ascertain competence? Has he done needs assessment? Or he just wants to “reinstate” them for political purposes? Teaching jobs should be not like that. I fear that this man will put education in peril,” a don at the University of Ilorin who craved anonymity remarked.
In Osun, Governor Ademola Adeleke of PDP sacked 12,000 workers, reversed the appointment of 3 monarchs, and set aside the logo, anthem etc in his first day in office– a decision many described as ”draconian, vengeful, and narrow-minded.”
