Over 1,220 teachers disengaged by the Kwara State government, on Saturday, October 24, appealed to the state government to reconsider their plight and reinstate them.
Deputy Coordinator of the teachers, under the aegis of ‘Sunset Teachers,’ Mr Wasiu Yunusa, made the appeal at a news conference on Saturday in Ilorin, the state capital.
He stated that the affected teachers were employed in January 2019 towards the end of the previous administration.
According to him, a total of 2,214 teachers were later disengaged from the services of the government of Kwara State by the current administration.
The state government, he however noted, reinstated some of the teachers, with about 1,220 others still disengaged.
Yunusa added that when the current administration came on board, the governor assured them that they would not be punished for being employed late, by his predecessor.
He said the governor described them as his children, who did not deserve to be punished.
“About a year after the assurance, we heard online that all workers engaged in 2019 had been disengaged,” he lamented.
The deputy coordinator of the disengaged teachers said members later had the opportunity to meet with the governor to seek clarification on the reason for the disengagement.
“The governor later directed the affected workers to reapply, which they complied with, but most of us are yet to be reinstated,” Yunusa said.
The teachers’ representative said since the disengagement, they had written several appeal letters to the governor for reconsideration.
He asserted that many of the affected workers were with aged parents and other dependents to cater for, but currently unable to meet their family obligations.
Yunusa appealed to the governor to look into their plight and reinstate them.
“We firmly believe that under your compassionate leadership, our long awaited hope can become a reality.
“History will undoubtedly remember this act of mercy and justice, as one that restored lives, strengthened families and advanced the cause of education,” he said.
