August 26, 2007

As an age-old, decent, noble and rewardful profession teaching enjoys a unique prestige in the recorded human history. Teachers are revered and held on high esteem as they are the crystal of civilization, repertoires of wisdom, emblem of humility and vanguards of justice and rule of law. They it is who, through constant and tireless guidance and rigorous orientation, draw a line of demarcation between human beings and animals. Whatever any nation achieves or a noble position it attains is the end result of teachers’ hard work. These and many others may be partly the reason that no religion or culture has ever dared to relegate teachers to nothing.  

In Islam the regard given to teachers is so high as to be next to the Angels as per bearing witness to the Oneness and Absolute Justice of Allah. Moreover, the Prophet of Islam, Sayyiduna Muhammad, upon whom be peace, is reported to have said that the entire land and water creatures supplicate to the teacher. In addition to this he also said that three categories of people will be allowed by Allah to save the necks of people from the hellfire; Prophets, Martyrs and Teachers. This explains why in the history of Islam teachers are so revered that a student would proudly declare himself to be a slave to his teacher who may, at his own discretion, put him under servitude or manumit him.  

In Nigerian history, even the colonial masters are attested to have accorded a high status to teaching and teachers. The great Nigerian icons in both the pre-colonial and post-colonial times were teachers. Similarly, those who championed the independence of Nigeria were teachers.  

Here in kano , respect and reverence for teachers is a well known attitude of the Kano people. In the past the regard our emirs had for teachers reached to such an extent that a teacher was given a land of his choice and measurement in order to make him feel at home so that he could impart as much knowledge as possible. So much hospitality, care and respect were accorded teachers that many of them stayed in the town imparting knowledge up to their death. This high regard for teachers reached its climax in kano when, in the 2003 gubernatorial elections, a teacher was voted as the state governor. Expectedly, he is proving to be one of the best governors Kano has ever had in its history as a state. Fully aware of the travail teachers in the state have gone through, the God-minded governor has been so keen aout their welfare. In his attempt to bail teachers out of the age-old inferiority complex, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau introduced new allowances for teachers only and revived the long forgotten Scholarship for studying abroad, to mention just a few. The sporadic and indiscriminate deduction from their salaries, which was very common during the kicked-out Kwankwaso administration, is now brought to an end by the tender-hearted governor Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau.  

All these notwithstanding, teachers under the kano State Science and technical Schools Board (KSTB) still languish in a condition akin to that under the kwankwaso administration. They have been suffering in silence for the past four years. This is because they are coercively made to succumb to a pharaonic rulership as it is more concerned with ruling rather than leading.  

At this juncture I will like to fearlessly and categorically state that I am an ardent supporter of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and pray to remain as such for the rest of my life, so long as he stands by the truth. This is because what underlines my love and reverence for him is spiritual and not material. I have therefore vowed to expose whoever attempts to scuttle the laudable programmes of this governor regardless of whoever he may be. It is also immaterial to me whether the scuttler is closely or remotely related to the governor. I consider it a disservice to Islam and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau if I keep my mouth shut and my hands akimbo while an opportunist or sadist is bent on enslaving the silent majority among whom and from whom the governor hailed.  

No sooner had the incumbent rulership at the KSTB assumed office that it abruptly put an end to all the teacher-friendly programmes of its immediate predecessor. First to go was the ample opportunity availed for further studies. This was replaced with a quasi-total ban on further education. Unsatisfiable requirements were set down for a teacher to qualify for a study leave. Some of these includes the following:  

      That the intending teacher should give a two-year prior notice;

      That whether he is going for undergraduate or post-graduate studies the course applied for must, as a mater of necessity, be what he teaches;

      That regardless of the number of years he puts into active service he can only enjoy a study leave and not an in-service. This means that whatever expenses he incurs in the course of his study will be from his own pocket;

      That should a teacher on-course secures another job but spent less than fifteen consecutive years with the Board he must give a one-year salary or serve for five consecutive post-study years before he can be released on transfer-of –service.  

All this combine to mean that a teacher should never dream of furthering his studies under this oppressive and Machiavellian rulership.   

Despite all this a teacher must work like a machine without any regard whatsoever to his welfare, thereby relegating the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to the dust bin. No matter how dedicated and hard working a teacher is he is ruthlessly and mercilessly dealt with the moment he circumstantially fails. In addition to the fact that no incentive of whatever kind is given to a teacher, the rulership’s attitude towards him is completely devoid of the aroma of courtesy , justice and fair play. Just of recent one of the reputably dedicated, selfless and hard working teachers was served with a query for no other reason than visiting his aged and sick mother. Leaving in a far away place, she sent for him saying that she desperately needed to see him. This gentleman was never found wanting in the discharge of his responsibilities.  

It will look absurd for the reader to know that concern for the welfare of teachers in all its ramifications is never a matter of concern to the rulership along with the epileptic and polio-ridden board members in both of whom the teachers have already lost confidence. The following instances will help to prove the veracity of this assertion:  

1. When the teacher-friendly administration of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau introduced new allowances for teachers, as was alluded to earlier, those under the Teachers Service Board enjoyed theirs for four months before those under the KSTB could start benefiting. And this was due to the rulership;s bureaucratic brouhaha and its deliberate failure to meet up to the stipulated rendezvous.
2. Another heart-breaking instance is that of a notably dedicated teacher in one of the pioneer science schools (now colleges) under the Board. He lost almost all his belongings in a fire disaster. To date not a single message of sympathy, verbal or written, is heard from the rulership. No move was made to renovate the fire-rosted house. In total despair of any assistance, the poor teacher, along with his more than ten dependents now squat in a room and parlour, a typical example of man’s inhumanity to man.
3. Another sad example is the Teachers Residential Plot Loan Scheme which the Machiavellian rulershipI at the Board, by its action and inaction, turned to Teachers Residential Plot Loss Scheme. What happened was that the academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, in collaboration with Unity Bank, initiated this loan scheme which is aimed at enabling teachers in the state to own plots of residence. It was tagged Teachers Residential Plot Loan Scheme 2007. The target residential plots are, according to the circular with reference number ASUSS/LCC/VOL  11/002/07 dated 23/3/2007, located at Gwazaye village, after Sani Abacha Youth Centre in Kumbotso Local Govt. Each plot measures 30 by 30 at the rate of #70,000 (seventy thousand naira) to be paid  in a period of eighteen months. This means that a sum of #3889 (three thousand eight hundred and eighty nine naira) will be deducted each month.

All the participating teachers agreed to this arrangement. The two mother boards i.e, TSB and KSTB, are required to stand as guarantors to their teachers. The Executive Secretary of the TSB contacted the Head of Service for approval. The only thing he was asked to clarify was whether the target land is legally acquired and whether the plan conforms with the default land plan such that provision is made for school, graveyard, market, mosque and children play ground. When it was ascertained that all are complied with the Head of Service approved for the TSB to stand as a guarantor for its teachers. Teachers under the TSB have since started enjoying from this profitable venture.  

As for the rulership at the KSTB the issue was deliberately dragged and prolonged in the name of seeking clearance from the head of service and finally the expected happened. The Board’s rulership unequivocally and shamelessly concluded it is standing as a guarantor for its teachers. By this singular act the teachers inferred that they and their families are therefore ruthlessly subjected to a life of gross agony and perpetual tenancy. What a concern!  

The greatest mayhem that may befall a teacher under the KSTB is securing another job. This is because the entire amlgam of the rulership’s wrath, jealousy, hatred and cruelty will be squarely centered on him. This writer is a victim of this gross injustice of the millennium which is doubtlessly repugnant to equity and natural justice. I served with KSTB for twelve years throughout which I was never found wanting as per the discharge of my responsibilities. With all humility I can say that I am about the only teacher whose transfer became a matter of great concern for the school’s PTA under the chairmanship of Alhaji Sani Musa Danhassan. They mounted pressure on the board to revisit my transfer as they were confident in my ability to preserve and maintain the moral and spiritual integrity of their children in particular and the entire school in general. That was in 1998. The then leadership at the Board had to succumb to this pressure and asked for my expressed opinion. I told them that as I agreed in my offer of appointment to work anywhere in the state I cannot set a bad precedent.  

Eventually, I secured an appointment with Federal College of Education, Kano in 2005. When I applied for a transfer of service I was replied that the only option left for me was to resign. I checked and cross-checked the Kano State Civil Service Rules but could not find a provision for denying transfer of service to a worker who secures an appointment with another organization under the state, let alone at the federal level. No state in the federation will be sad if one of its own indigenes fills the vacancy allotted to it at the federal level. I can vividly remember the time when, in order not to be placed on a low salary scale, the state government, quickly promotes any staff who secures an appointment with any federal organization. He was even paid some amount of money for up to three months in order to allow him to settle comfortably in his new working place.  

Being so much concerned about my predicament my new head of Department intervened with the hope that the incumbent rulership would see reason and release me on transfer of service. We had to see the rulership about seven times begging as if it is a crime to secure job elsewhere while under the board. Finally, it was communicated to me in writing that the board regrets to inform me that it still stands on its earlier decision not to release me on transfer of service. My HOD was apparently embarrassed and disappointed. What a tragedy! A kano indigene in his productive years is now deliberately forced to serve with the federal government as contract officer. This I will never forgive and have already rested my case with Allahu Ta’ala, the Just and the Ever-assisting Lord.  

It is the tradition of Allah to open ways for his servants whenever a tyrant attempts to block all opportunities for them. This fascist tendency of the rulership led to a monumental exodus of teachers from the board. Disturbed by this negative (?) development the rulership issued a circular stating that whoever wants to be released  on transfer of service must have served with the boardfor fifteen consecutive years or give a one-year salary. As usual there have always been sacred cows. I personally know of a teacher who was released on transfer of service unconditionally because of his special caliber in the sight of the incumbent rulership. One can therefore conclude that with al the aura of freedom ushered in by the administration of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, teachers in KSTB are still devoured by the fear internal victimization if they should cry out.  

These new requirements are clearly unconstitutional, undemocratic and irrational

Which, if left unattended, may turn into a cancer that will eat away the fabrics of a sound and sustainable development.  

Besides being forced to feel inferior before their junior and non-academic colleagues the hardworking and simple-minded KSTB teachers hardly benefit from any generosity extended to all workers in the state by the God-loving administration of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. For instance, whenever grains are distributed during the month of Ramadan KSTV teachers end up with only two or three measures while their non-teaching colleagues at the secretariat go home with half bags or even full bags.  

I therefore wish to draw the attention of the present rulership at the board that throughout the recorded human history oppression and injustice have never lasted. Gone are the Caesars, the Nimrods,the Pharaos, the Abu Jahls, the Tartars, the Hitlers, the Churchills, the Haile Salasies, the mobutus, the Samuel Does, etc. In a hadith Qudsi Allahu ta’ala declares that ‘O my Slaves! (despite the fact that I am Almighty whose judgement can never be questioned, despite the fact that I am Strong and as such nobody can overpower me) I have prohibited Myself from oppression and placed it among yourselves as a detestable thing. (Therefore) Never oppress one another.’ You should never take peoples’ submission, courtesy and humbleness for granted and misuse it to maltreat them for the two days of reckoning are imminent; the day you will removed from your position and the Day you will meet Allah. On these two days courtiers, praise-singers and arrogance will be of no avail to you. This is because you carry th burden of not only the teachers under you but all their dependents. Families and relatives as well.  

Moreover, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau does not belong to you alone. He belongs to all the people living in kano , both their rank and file. As such we will never allow anybody, regardless of his relationship with the governor, blood or otherwise, to deliberately sabotage his sincere effort in ensuring that a life of dignity and respect is enjoyed by all and sundry. We will use our pens and brains to expose any sadist or fascist who, hiding under the cover of leading a ministry or parastatal, is bent on subjecting teachers to a life of perpetual slavery and domination. They are all born free and never shall we allow anybody to enslave them by denying them what is rightfully theirs. It is their right and not a privilege.  

Turning to the governor, I am optimistic that this time around he faces no problem of distracters. Allah, In His absolute Mercy, Has bailed him out of the attacks of the generals, the genie-friends and the empty vessels. He should therefore never relent on bringing any oppressor to justice. Replace him with a more qualified but God-fearing person. Never exercise any fear for Allah is with you and will always be with you so long as you stand by the truth. Never allow your justice to be tampered with blood relationship or friendship affiliation. Never allow teachers to be put under servitude by anybody. They have had enough. Teachers under the KSTB are really suffering and if you didn’t come to their rescue Allah will. O Allah! Bear witness to the fact that I have done my part! Give our governor the courage and guidance to redress this unhealthy situation within the shortest possible time, for the sake of the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam