The Academic Staff of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau in Zamfara State has started an indefinite strike and requested the immediate removal of the College's Provost, Mrs Hauwa’u Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim.
In a statement released to the press on Wednesday and signed by the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of the College, Dr Abdullahi Muhammad, the teachers stated that the Provost was not suitable for the position and must resign before they would go back to work.
The statement also mentioned that the union members would not work under a provost who has been declared unqualified and unsuitable by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The statement said, “The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) FCET Gusau chapter held its congress meeting on 12th March 2024”.
“The union members have resolved to suspend all academic and administrative activities until the Federal Ministry of Education’s directive over the vexed appointment of Dr (Mrs.) Hauwa’u Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim as the substantive provost of Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau is implemented.
“That is she should resign and hand over to the most senior academic staff in the college.
“Dr. (Mrs.) Hauwa’u Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim took an appointment as the substantive provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau on the 14th of August 2023.
“On her assumption as the substantive Provost of the college, the attention of the union (COEASU) was drawn to the petition against her by a human rights group (Equity Alliance) demanding for cancellation of her appointment as substantive provost of the college on the ground of misrepresentation of a forged document.
“The union was aware just before the provost assumed duty that she was not qualified ab initio the local chapter of the union and she was directed by the national body to wait for the verdict of the Federal Ministry of Education on the matter.
“Furthermore, the implication of the allegation is that it is a gross violation of section 2.8 of the revised condition of service (2015) of the federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria and the requirements in the advertisement placed on the position of the provost.
“Therefore, our members will not be able to work under a provost who has been declared unqualified and unsuitable by the Federal Ministry of Education.
“The decision was taken in good faith to protect the integrity of the college as a teacher training institution which is guided by the rule of law.”
