Politics played out its hand in full recently when teachers in Edo State went head to head with Governor Adams Oshiomhole over a dodgy test that bruised egos and nearly marred integrity until survival instinct was factored into the equation.
Adams Oshiomhole
Leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) got what they did not bargain for when they visited Oshiomhole in Benin City in the heat of the fracas.
He suddenly announced the cancellation of the controversial competence test for teachers. His guests were shocked.
The test had generated such hoopla that teachers vowed not to write it and the government threatened to sack them.
936 teachers’ salary stopped, reinstated
The names of 936 teachers were deleted from the payroll over alleged falsification of age and irregularities in credentials.
But Oshiomhole announced to his visitors that all teachers were now reinstated.
“On assumption of office,” he recounted, “it was very clear to me and my colleagues that our future is defined by the level of investment in education and the quality of the basic education we provide for our children.
“That is why we have devoted resources to the rebuilding of our primary schools, junior and senior secondary schools.”
He said it is clear “coming from my own background” that he has obligation to restore dignity to the educational sector in Edo.
“Basic education is like the foundation of a house; if the foundation is weak, the building will collapse, but if the foundation is strong, it will withstand the test of time. It is easier to re-roof than to re-build a complete house.”
Having listened to all suggestions and consultations with various groups, he added, the government agreed to set aside the competence or assessment test to reassure workers that the government “has no intention to sack anyone.”
Professors set to work
Oshiomhole had stood his ground that all teachers would take the test, but the teachers were defiant.
To show government’s seriousness, he inaugurated a team of six professors, led by former Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University (AA), Ekpoma, Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, to conduct the exercise.
Other members of the committee were Professors Ikponmwonsa Owie, Noah Musa, Augustine Osunde and A.O. Imogie.
The state NUT went to court to get an injunction against the plan.
Its counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, stated in a petition to Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Henry Idahagbon, that the teachers had a pending suit at the National Industrial Court in Akure, Ondo State and that all court processes had been served.
Eyeball to eyeball
However, on Thursday, March 20, an unrelenting Oshiomhole seized the opportunity of being a guest speaker at the 20th National Economic Summit in Abuja to lambast the teachers.
His words: “Somebody said to me, election is coming and I am antagonising teachers. I asked myself, why should I be a governor if I cannot take difficult decisions?
“Must we allow the Nigerian child to be in the classroom being taught by a teacher who does not understand how to spell the word teacher?”
Things came to a head when Oshiomhole hurriedly held a town hall meeting with stakeholders to lay the matter before them.
A few hours before the meeting, the NUT in a communique signed by its state Chairman, Mike Uhunmwangho, announced that his members would not attend the meeting.
The majority of those who attended the crowded meeting advised Oshiomhole to sack any teacher who refused to take the test. All traditional rulers present endorsed the assessment and urged him to fire those not qualified.
Test, a huge failure
On March 21, the test held simultaneously at three centres. But the majority of teachers heeded the counsel of the NUT leadership and boycotted it.
At the University of Benin (UNIBEN), centre for Edo South Senatorial District, only 73 teachers took the test.
At the Auchi Polytechnic centre in Edo North, 12 showed up, 10 of them secondary school teachers, two primary school teachers.
Only 15 took the test at the centre in Edo Central Senatorial District at AAU.
The very low turn out in all centres made the exercise a huge failure.
Political calculation
When everyone was waiting to see who would blink first between the tough talking Oshiomhole and the recalcitrant teachers, the governor suddenly cancelled the test and promised to train and retrain teachers.
“Those teachers who falsified age declaration with criminal intentions to cheat, the government has resolved to pardon them and retire those whose records show are above 60 years.
“Those below 60 years are to return to the classroom with their names returned to the payroll and will benefit from the training programme,” he clarified.
Some believe that although his action is commendable, it was borne out of the political crisis occasioned by the emergence of two Houses of Assembly where there are now two speakers.
Applause from quarters
Regardless, the Otaru of Auchi, Aliru Ikelebe III, has commended Oshiomhole for cancelling the test, a move he said has doused the tension and fear of teachers who thought it was a ploy to get rid of them.
He added: “The teachers are now all back. Those who were sacked have been asked to resume work. Teachers who are supposed to be taking exams have been exempted from taking exams and those who are qualified to retire will be retired with full pay. I thank you and God bless you.
“So, I must say that not only Edo State but Nigeria as a whole must be happy about this development.”
In his view, Oshiomhole’s gesture should be rewarded by the teachers by supporting him to further develop Edo.
Ikelebe bared his mind at the formal presentation of the winner of this year’s Koranic recitation competition held in Jigawa State.
Former TUC President, Peter Esele, equally lauded the reinstatement of the teachers whose names were removed from the payroll over alleged certificate discrepancy and age falsification.
