Six teachers nabbed for flouting COVID-19 Protocols
About six members of the 2,414 sacked teachers in kwara state were arrested by the Nigeria police, Kwara command for allegedly contravening COVID-19 protocol during their protest to the state Government House in Ilorin on Wednesday.
This was confirmed by the police public relations officer, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, in a statement.
‘Sunset Workers’ a code name for teacher appointed in the twilight of former Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed’s Administration in February 2019 by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)Teachers sacked by governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in December 2020.
The state government placed advertisement for the employment of 2,701 teachers in its basic schools across specific subjects after their disengagement, saying applicants must have Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and at least five O’ Level Credit passes in Mathematics, English, and three other relevant subjects in not more than two sittings.
However, the sacked teachers who have engaged in continued protest since last week Wednesday demanded automatic employment for those of them that were sacked by the government in December last year.
According to them, they have been in the state government employment for about two years before their sack, adding that they have requisite qualifications that made them suitable for the job.
“The Kwara state police command today arrested the following suspects – Aransiola Olubukun ‘f’, Salaudeen Abubakar ‘m’, Mohammed Soliu ‘m’, Ibahim Alabi ‘m’, Isiaka Toyin ‘m’ and Adewale Abdulazeez ‘m’ for violating the COVID-19 protocols as directed by the federal and the state governments respectfully.
“This offence was committed in the process of an alleged protest by a group called the ‘Sunset’ teachers in Ilorin metropolis.
“Not only did they run afoul of the COVID-19 guidelines, they also in their multitude blocked the popular Ahmadu Bello way Ilorin, thereby preventing lawful users of the road of their rights of passage by disturbing the public peace which is in contravention of Section 113 of the penal code.
“The good people of Kwara may recall that the purported protest has been ongoing for almost a week without any interference from security agencies.
“The command wishes to state unequivocally that, it is the right of every citizen to protest peacefully, but it should be noted that where one’s right ends, another person’s starts, therefore, the command will not fold her arms while some people in the guise of exercising their supposed rights compromise the peace in the state.
“CP Mohammed Lawal Bagega wishes to assure law abiding citizens of their safety at all times while would be law breakers are warned to desist or face the full weight of the law, please.”, the statement said.
