Former primary school teachers in Kaduna State have criticized the past administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufai for not paying their terminal benefits. These teachers, who were dismissed in 2017 after failing a competency test, say they were unfairly treated.

Under El-Rufai’s leadership, 21,000 out of 30,000 primary school teachers lost their jobs due to the test. However, the affected teachers, now part of the “Kaduna State Illegally Disengaged Teachers Forum” (KSIDF), insist that the test was just an excuse to reduce salary costs.

Speaking at a meeting at Arewa House, KSIDF State Coordinator Aminu Maitama claimed that many teachers actually scored 70% or more on the test but were still sacked. He believes the test was not conducted fairly and was meant to downsize the workforce rather than improve education standards.

The teachers expressed their frustration over the government’s refusal to pay their benefits, describing it as an injustice to those who had contributed to the state’s education system.

Now, they are calling on the current Governor, Uba Sani, to intervene and review their case. They hope he will show concern for their situation and ensure they receive their rightful payments.

The affected teachers continue to push for justice, believing that their contributions to education should not be ignored.