By Izunna Okafor, Awka
What could best be described as a dramatic scene ensued in Awka, Anambra State capital, over the week, as alleged officials of the Anambra State Government reportedly flogged and manhandled some teachers who turned up for a verification exercise.
The incident, which reportedly happened at the Jerome Udorji Secretariat Complex, was corroborated by a video clip currently circulating on social media, showing one of the suspected government officials with a cane as he beat up some of the teachers standing under the hot sun for the exercise.
Although it was not stated in the video what the teachers committed that warranted such treatment and abuse, the viral video showed the official flogging some of the teachers and even dragging one of the female teachers by the upper part of her clothes, briefly exposing some of her private parts, while some teachers and colleagues were seen making efforts to retrieve the cane from him.
The same official was also seen trying to use the cane to chase back some of the teachers in the crowded scene.
While the video has continued to generate reactions and counter-reactions on social media, the Anambra State branch of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has also reacted to the incident, including through a letter attributed to the Union, which has equally gone viral on social media.
In the trending letter, purportedly signed by the Secretary of the Union, Comrade Dr. Okechukwu Nwachukwu, and addressed to the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ekene Ogugua, the Union condemned what it described as the ill-treatment and abuse of teachers in Anambra State and, by extension, teachers across Nigeria.
The letter formally informed the Commissioner of what transpired during the verification exercise organised by the state government, alleging that teachers were manhandled, maltreated and subjected to various forms of inhumane treatment by the organisers of the exercise.
According to the letter, aside from the flogging of teachers with a cane, no provisions were made for canopies and seats at the venue, forcing those who came for the verification exercise to stand for long hours under the scorching sun.
This, according to the letter, resulted in some teachers slumping at the venue of the exercise.
“These acts are evil, demoralising, and demeaning to our profession, and more importantly, violations of the rights and privileges of the teachers and the teaching profession,” the letter partly read.
The Union, in the letter, also made a couple of demands, and further threatened to withdraw teachers across Anambra State if those demands were not met.
According to the letter, the demands included a written apology from the organisers of the verification exercise, as well as the immediate suspension of the exercise pending the fulfilment of certain conditions.
The conditions included extending the verification exercise to conveniently accommodate every participant, improving the coordination of the exercise and properly scheduling participants either in smaller groups or on a local government-by-local government basis.
Furthermore, the Union demanded that those who were skipped for one reason or another be given specific dates for a mop-up exercise. They further demanded the provision of seats and canopies for participants, as well as the establishment of a complaint desk for the prompt resolution of issues arising from the exercise.
While noting that the NUT was not against the verification exercise, the Union also stated that it would not support any teachers found to have defaulted in the process.
The Union, however, emphatically warned that if its demands were not met immediately, it might be forced to withdraw the services of teachers across the state and release videos showing teachers being physically flogged, insulted, pushed down and abused.
Given that the viral letter had no date attached to it, this reporter, Izunna Okafor, contacted the State Secretary of the NUT, Comrade Dr. Okechukwu Nwachukwu, to confirm its authenticity.
However, Dr. Nwachukwu, in a telephone interview, said he had not seen the trending letter and therefore would not comment on whether it emanated from him or not.
When asked if he had written any letter at all to the Commissioner regarding the incident, he advised the reporter to approach the Commissioner for confirmation and declined to comment further.
This reporter further asked the NUT Secretary if he was aware of the said incident that reportedly transpired at the State Secretariat, in response to which he only said he was aware that there was a verification exercise at the Secretariat. He, however, declined to answer the reporter’s question on whether the exercise turned violent or not, arguing that the meaning of the word “violence” could be relative.
When asked further questions about the said incident and the position of the Union, he simply told the reporter that he was not the Chairperson or the Spokesperson of the Union.
Suspecting a palpable fear and reluctance to give out information, the reporter further contacted the Anambra State Chairperson of NUT, Comrade Chika Chukwudozie for further inquiries. She, however, told the reporter to come to the office, that she did not grant interviews on phone.
When the reporter indicated an intention to end the call and visit the office, the Chairperson said she was already driving out.
This reporter also contacted the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ekene Ogugua, who confirmed that he was aware of the incident and had received a letter from the NUT.
Ogugua condemned the alleged maltreatment of the teachers, describing the reported conduct as unacceptable and disclosing that he had contacted the government office responsible for organising the verification exercise to express his displeasure over the manner in which it was being conducted.
The Commissioner clarified that the exercise was organised and being implemented by the Office of the Head of Service of Anambra State, rather than the Ministry of Education.
While explaining that the verification exercise was not designed exclusively for teachers but covered all civil servants and retirees in the state, he added that the large number of teachers participating in the exercise had contributed to the congestion and difficulties being experienced at the venue.
According to him, information available to him indicated that some teachers who turned up for verification did not have all the required documents and were asked to return with them. As a result of that, he said those who could not complete the process on their scheduled days subsequently returned on other days, coinciding with the turns of other participants. He said the information I indicated that the people who returned the following day with their complete requirements were reportedly trying to chance or drag space with the people whose turn it was that day.
The Commissioner said the situation had created a struggle between those seeking to complete their verification from previous days and those whose turns had been scheduled for the day, thereby worsening the congestion at the venue.
He acknowledged that the arrangement was not yet as efficient as it should be but said the government was working to address the challenges and establish a more orderly process.
Commissioner Ogugua disclosed that the verification exercise for teachers had been suspended temporarily to allow for a better arrangement that would provide a more conducive environment for participants.
He said the new arrangement would include designated places where teachers could sit while waiting for their turns, with canopies provided where possible to protect them from the sun and rain.
The Commissioner also emphasised the need for improved communication and proper scheduling to ensure that participants were adequately informed of their verification dates, thereby preventing unnecessary crowding and disorder at the venue.
He said the Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; the Ministry of Education and other relevant government authorities were unhappy with the reported incidents and were committed to finding a lasting solution to the challenges.
When asked if there would be any reprimand for the person involved in the alleged physical assault of the teachers, Ogugua disclosed that he had requested the identity of the official seen in the viral video and would ensure that the matter was followed up with the Office of the Head of Service for appropriate action.
He condemned the alleged conduct, noting that it was unacceptable for anybody to subject teachers to such treatment.
The Commissioner observed that teachers were themselves expected to exercise restraint in their treatment of pupils and avoid excessive flogging of children, making it particularly worrisome that an official would allegedly turn around to flog teachers.
He assured that he would follow up on the matter to ensure that the official involved was dealt with in accordance with the law.
Asked about meeting the demands contained in the NUT’s letter, Ogugua said the government was working to address the concerns raised by the Union, providing that the demands are reasonable and within what the government could handle.
He expressed optimism that the issues would be resolved to prevent further disruption of the verification exercise and avert any possible withdrawal of teachers’ services across the state.
However, when asked to confirm the allegation that some teachers slumped at the venue during the exercise, the Commissioner said he was not aware if anyone had slumped or not.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the arrangement had been stressful for participants and reiterated that steps were being taken to address the difficulties.
The Commissioner could not give a specific date for the resumption of the teachers’ verification exercise, as the exercise is being handled by the Office of the Head of Service. He, however, maintained that the temporary suspension was intended to allow the government to put a better and more organised arrangement in place before the exercise continued.
Efforts by this reporter to contact the Head of Service, Barr. Ngozi Iwouno, proved abortive as calls to her phone were not successful as at the time of this publication.
Watch the video below:
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