The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Bauchi State chapter yesterday opposed the distribution of disengagement letters to primary school teachers by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Hashimu Gital, while addressing newsmen said labour groups in Bauchi are displeased with SUBEB over the issue, especially with the intervention of the state executive council which directed all teachers to submit themselves for verification.

“We are not happy with the report we received that SUBEB is currently distributing disengagement letters to primary school teachers. We even learnt that some of the teachers were forced by the board to write apology letters, we are not happy with this development at all”, he said.

He advised SUBEB to stop all actions against the teachers, and respect the committee set up by the state government to verify the results of the primary school teachers.

But, Public Relations Officer of SUBEB, Kabiru Ali Kobi, denied the allegations that the board forced primary school teachers to write apology letters.

 “The state government sent  a letter to the board directing it to disengage all non productive staff in the local education authority as contained in the report of the committee set up to look for productive and non productive staff in the local government areas. We did not receive any letter stopping us from conducting the exercise. The board earlier asked the primary school teachers to take proficiency test, but the NUT dispersed them and those that refused to take the exam were the one’s asked to collect their disengagement letters from the service. If they want to be absorbed they should apply for re-engagement and attach all the photocopies of their credentials through their education secretaries who will endorse them”, he said.