Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools in Taraba State has call off the earlier strike embark upon by its members and call on them to resume academic activities in all schools.
The Secretary of the Union, Comrade Dr. Kazon Ishaku disclose this while briefing Journalists in jalingo.
He said that the union is satisfied with the steps taken by the state government towards ensuring that the student who stabbed the deceased teacher is arrested and make to face the law.
He also said it would be unfair having received the assurance of the state government to prolong their strike action hence the reason why the union has instructed its members across the 16 local government area of the state go resume work immediately.
“We are happy that our governor is a listening governor and he has seen reason with us why we took this action even though he was not around when this incident happened.
“We appreciate our members for their solidarity and its on this note we direct that every academic activities resume tomorrow. Monday.
He task the government to ensure all schools across the state have security presence to ensure both students and teachers are secured.
He further call on the state government to take over the responsibility of education of the deceased children who are currently vulnerable.
“Once education is taken away from a society, of course you know that darkness will loom over such society.
“After several hours of meeting with the agencies of the state government, the union has unanimously agreed to reopen the secondary schools in Taraba State
“Over the weekend, we have had fruitful deliberations with the agencies of government, the House Committee on Education, and the Ministry of Education.
“They gave us a round off of the activities of the government and how proactive the government is, and the steps taken so far.”
He said that aside the message of condolence sent to the union by the government, through the Commissioner for Education, the government had as well set up a committee assigned with the responsibility of investigating and bring the perpetrators to book.
The union said it had also called on the government to step in by taking over the burial of the deceased.
He also urge the state government to provide palliative measures to the families of the deceased, by taking over the education of the children of the deceased, among other things.
Recall that Bassey Sardauna, a teacher with Model Government Day Secondary School was stabbed severaly leading to his death by some former students of the institution.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Government through the Ministry of Education has issued a statement giving the update on the matter.
Dr. Augustina Godwin
Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Education, gave the statement. The statement reads in parts,
On Tragic Killing Of Bassey Sardauna and the Incident at Taraba State University.
On 9 November 2023, Mr. Bassey Sardauna Nkuphee, a teacher with Model Secondary School Jalingo, was reportedly brutally assassinated by ex-students of the school.
The Police immediately commenced investigation of the matter and the next day, the primary suspect of the murder act was nabbed but the principal suspect remained at large.
According to her, as soon as the incident occurred, Governor Agbu Kefas sent his condolences to the family of the deceased and the teaching community in Taraba State.
“Dr. Kefas also directed that an investigation committee be set up on the matter.
“Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary schools (ASUSS) has directed that all academic activities in schools be suspended until further notice.
“In the face of all this, a Committee of Inquiry that was set up in the wake of the manslaughter immediately swung into action by paying a condolence visit to the bereaved family.
“During the visit, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Idris Goje, delivered a condolence message, in which the committee sympathized with the family of the slain teacher.
She said that the family expressed its gratitude to the visitors for their visit, while demanding justice for the cruel death of their loved one.
“The committee has since continued its task of digging into the brains behind the heinous act and submit its report as quick as possible.
According to her, as part of continuous efforts to maintain law and order, the House Committee Members on Education, headed my Hon. Angye Josiah Yaro, the Permanent Secretary and Commissioner of Education met with ASUSS executives on 10 November 2023 to condole with the body and resolve the issue of suspension of academic activities as declared by the group.
“At the end of the meeting, ASUSS was asked to forward all demands for their deceased colleague to the Committee of Inquiry and resume academic activities on Monday, 13 November as all necessary measures would be taken by Government for the welfare of the family of the deceased, the safety of students, and school teachers.
She directed school heads to ensure they have the phone numbers of all relevant security agencies in the State.
“I would like to sincerely thank the Executive Secretary of the Post Primary schools Management Board Mr. Danazumi Navoki and Alh. Idris A. Goje for their prompt response when they got the news of the attack on Late Mr Bassey Sardauna.
She said that after meeting with ASUSS Executives, the she met with the Management of Taraba State University to get briefing regarding the attack on a student earlier the same day.
“It could be noted that one Abdulrashid Ibrahim, a final year student of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, was stabbed in the compound of the Friday Mosque, situated inside the University, allegedly by a non-student called Abdullahi Babangida Ahmed, following a verbal exchange between the two.
“The University management is yet to come to terms with the fact that it was only a brawl that led to the stabbing of the student.
“The University management took
prompt health and security measures to save the life of the victim, while ensuring the arrest of the culprit.
It has been reported that the stabbed student is gradually stabilizing in the hospital, while the culprit is in the custody of the Police Command.
“I commended the University management for the way it handled the matter – the statement concluded.