How National Teachers Institute DG Unilaterally Suspended 150 Recruited Staff In An Abusive And Unjustifiable Manner
The new Director-General of National Teachers Institute, NTI, Dr. Garba Azare has been accused of unilaterally suspending 150 newly recruited staff without any human feelings and breaking series of regulations in the process without fear of repercussion.
The group Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria, CATBAN, in statement said; “The Director General of National Teachers Institute (NTI) Dr Garba Azare in August 2016 abused the right of 150 new staff recruited into the institute and we find this violation detasteful and condemnable, especially with the conspiracy of silence among all relevant agencies petitioned by the victims to come to their rescue.”
The statement which was signed by Ibrahim Garba Wala, the National Convener of CATBAN also said that; “Citizens Action To take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) is disturbed about the magnitude of the abuse, in which a DG of NTI, Dr Garba Azare unilaterally suspended 150 newly recruited staff without any human feelings and breaking series of regulations in the process without fear of repercussion. CATBAN will not join the conspiracy of silence on this matter.”
Read The Full Statement Below
The Director General of National Teachers Institute (NTI) Dr Garba Azare in August 2016 abused the right of 150 new staff recruited into the institute and we find this violation detasteful and condemnable, especially with the conspiracy of silence among all relevant agencies petitioned by the victims to come to their rescue.
Citizens Action To take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) is disturbed about the magnitude of the abuse, in which a DG of NTI, Dr Garba Azare unilaterally suspended 150 newly recruited staff without any human feelings and breaking series of regulations in the process without fear of repercussion. CATBAN will not join the conspiracy of silence on this matter.
For the purpose of understanding, let us abreast you with the facts of the issue.
In April 2016, 150 staff were recruited into National Teachers Institute, Kaduna. The newly employed were recruited on the hill of their success during the interview sessions and screening exercise.
However, before the process of their recruitment was kick started, the former DG of the institute, Dr. Aminu Ladan sort approval of Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu in a letter dated 9th March 2016 titled, ‘’letter of notification on staff replacement exercise’’ and the approval was granted.
The institute then proceeded with the recruitment, following all regulations without omitting any. At a time when many government agencies are being accused of violating due processes in employment, NTI still observed every rule, which was something commendable.
The institute wrote to the Chairman of Federal Character Commission, requesting for waiver to replace the vacant positions and the waiver was granted. Interview was conducted, successful applicants were chosen and NTI went ahead to obtain certificate of compliance from Federal Character, indicating that due processes were complied with at every stage. The successful candidates were subsequently issued their appointment letters to which they wrote their acceptance letters. They collected their id cards, account details were given and registrations with various insurance companies were completed. They are certified as staff of NTI.
After working for some months in the institute, they were requested to convey at the Treasury House (Office of Accountant General of the Federation) for Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) exercise between 4th-8th August 2016. It was in the course of being captured in this exercise that the newly appointed DG, Dr Garba Azare abruptly suspended the exercise for no just reason.
Since the suspension, NTI management had not made any effort to explain why such irresponsible decision was taken and after several months of unknown fate and financial hardship, the suspended staff, under the aiges of Newly Employed Staff had to petition appropriate agencies, seeking intervention.
We find it abhorable that Dr Garba Azare, who was appointed to project the positive work of NTI began his tenure on an unjust note, throwing lives of 150 staff into jeopardy, simply because he wanted to make is own recruitment. Even God will definitely not forgive this wicked fellow for his tyrannical act of injustice against the law abiding workers, who have committed no crime to warrant such victimization.
In November 2016, the victims petitioned Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu over the injustice meted out to them by the DG. The petition was copied to all relevant places, including office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service, Federal Character Commission (FCC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Public Complaint Commission (PCC) and the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC).
It is however surprising that, in spite all efforts made by the victims to get their cries heard, none of the government agencies contacted had taken any step to find solution to their problems.
We are particular surprised about the silence of the Minister of Education, who was carried along in the recruitment process by the former DG, especially when the affected agency is under his ministry and also manned by his cousin. We had thought that being an agency under the Education Ministry, especially when the minister and the NTI DG are from the same family, we expect that the minister will take appropriate step to resolve and prevail on his cousin to retract his step from such abusive conduct, but it is a shame that nothing has been done by his ministry to protect the victims.
We are also shock to learn that all other relevant agencies, including National Human Rights Commission, Public Complaint Commission and Public Service have not taken any step to intervene in the matter more than 8 months, after receiving petition from the affected people. This is an indictment on all these organizations and it means that they have failed into upholding the law of this country, which has been flagrantly violated by the NTI management.
Furthermore, we must remind them that significant numbers of the affected staff are heads of families who had already resigned from their previous places of work and are now left with very narrow or no means of providing for their families. This is a very sad development we must quickly correct, if justice is to be done.
In view of this ugly development and the deliberate quest to fraudulent the victims, Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) is therefore giving the NTI DG 2 weeks ultimatum to recall all the affected staff starting from today 9th June 2017.
We must warn that, should the NTI refuse to act on this call within the stipulated period, it should blame itself for what ever consequences it incurred on itself.
CATBAN will not only mobilize citizens to occupy and shutdown the NTI, we shall ensure that the DG does not freely enjoy his rights, while denying the rights of others.
Apart from shutting down the NTI, we shall proceed to mobilize citizens to occupy the residence of the DG and give him a doss of citizen’s anger. Additionally, we will publish Dr. Azare’s personal and official contact details on all social media platforms for thousands upon thousands of Nigerians to bombard him with calls and text messages to register their anger.
Let it be known that CABAN shall not stop, until the victims are recalled. We shall make life unbearable for anyone making life unbearable for the citizens of this country.
A word is enough for the wise.
Yours in National Service,
Ibrahim Garba Wala
National Convener CATBAN
