According to Vanguard , the teachers who were hired in April 2015, shortly before the end of Governor Akpabio’s term, were dismissed in October 2016 under Governor Emmanuel’s administration.
These teachers took legal action against Governor Emmanuel’s administration, and for eight years, they fought in court to be reinstated, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful.
It is worth noting that Governor Emmanuel, through the then Head of the State Civil Service, Mrs. Ekereobong Akpan, clarified that the teachers were hired hastily without following proper procedures.
In a recent statement in Uyo, the State coordinator of the 5,000 sacked teachers, Comrade Edidiong Etop Udi, and the secretary, Comrade Ubong Akpan Obot, appealed to the Senate President for assistance, highlighting the extreme hardships they are enduring.
The statement emphasized the following points: “Your Excellency, during your tenure as the exceptional Governor of Akwa Ibom State, approximately 5,000 teachers were duly employed after undergoing a rigorous selection process. The Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board conducted an aptitude test at the University of Uyo town campus to ensure that the applicants were suitable for the teaching profession. This meticulous process lasted for over three years, and the successful candidates were eventually issued employment offers and appointment letters, dated April 1, 2015, in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Akwa Ibom State Public Service Rule (2010 edition). They were hired as Master/Mistress Grade II on Salary Grade Level 08, Step 2, with a starting salary of N369,324.48 per annum.
“However, on October 30, 2016, the then Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Ekereobong Akpan, following the directive of former Governor Udom Emmanuel, announced through the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) radio service the termination and invalidation of the appointments of the 5,000 teachers who were duly hired.”
The teachers conveyed their congratulations to Akpabio on his appointment as President of the 10th Senate and earnestly requested his intervention as the distinguished Senate president to address the dire situation faced by the sacked teachers, who are sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom State across all 31 Local Government Areas.
“Eight years have passed, and the remaining sacked teachers are still unemployed, suffering from the hardships and consequences of unemployment.”
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