Document shows DSS lied over ownership of Abuja schools where over 100 teachers were sacked

Contrary to claim by the Department of State Service (DSS), that it was not the owner of the Community Staff Schools, Asokoro,  Abuja where over teachers were sacked, letter issued to the affected teachers clearly showed that the schools are owned and controlled by the DSS.

The DSS had on Tuesday, distanced itself from the ownership of the primary and secondary schools, Community Staff Schools, Asokoro, Abuja.

Reacting to report by WazobiaReporters, the spokesperson of the service, Dr Peter Afunanya said “the school is autonomous and not run by the service as being alleged.”

According to him, the school has an “independent board that takes decisions for it. It has no link with the service.”

Afunaya went further to claim that no teacher was sacked, saying; “Though I may not be speaking for the school, I, however, learnt that no single staff was dismissed. I was also told that the school will be cutting short its earlier two weeks break to resume on Thursday, November 3, 2020, that’s all that I can say for now.”

However, the sack letter dated November 2, 2020 and signed by M. O. Onyilo, Executive Secretary of the Community Staff Schools, a copy of which was made available to WazobiaReporters mentioned the Director General, State Services (DGSS) as the Proprietor of the schools.

The letter was also written as directed by the DG DSS.

The disengagement letter read;  “Due to the effect of COVID-19 on the Nigerian economy vis-a-vis the crippling financial situation in the school, I am directed to convey the Director General, State Services (DGSS)/Proprietors’ approval to disengage you from the services of the school with effect from 3rd November 2020. Meanwhile, you are expected to handover all school properties in your custody to the Secondary School Secretary.

“You may wish to contact your Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) for your benefits. The Proprietor wishes you well in your future endeavours, please.”

Though effect of COVID-19 on the Nigerian economy vis-a-vis the crippling financial situation in the school was adduced as reason for the termination of appointments of the teachers, sources told WazobiaReporters that the teachers were sacked because they insisted on joining the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

WazobiaReporters was told that the teachers wanted to freely join the NUT, but the school management under the DSS will not allow that.

NUT took the management to Industrial Court on behalf of the teachers and won. The management appealed the judgment and the appeal was thrown out in 2018 for lack of merit as it was against Section 40 of CFRN 1999.

The National Industrial Court also restrained the management of the schools perpetually from dismissing, disengaging, locking out or terminating the appointments the teachers for engaging in activities as members of the NUT  without complying with the Public Service Rules.

“The teachers were said to have started a new agitation to join the NUT few weeks ago, the management invited DSS men to quell that including shooting of tear gas and gun shots. Only for the management to sack all of them after work today and asked the school children to stay away for two weeks,” a source said.