Juliet Ezeh
More than 200 disengaged casual workers of the Bauchi State Ministry of Education have cried out over what they describe as an abrupt and unjust termination of their appointments, calling on Governor Bala Mohammed to urgently intervene and grant them permanent employment.
The affected workers, who served as fingerprint terminal operators across public schools in the state, said their disengagement has plunged them and their families into severe hardship, despite years of dedicated service to the education system.
In a statement issued on Friday by their chairman, Musa Alfa, the group expressed deep frustration over what they termed a lack of fairness, transparency, and recognition of their contributions.
“For over seven years, we have served diligently, supporting the education system with commitment, sincerity, and sacrifice. We carried out our duties with the fear of God, despite being on casual appointments,” Alfa stated.
Backbone of School Monitoring System
The disengaged workers explained that their role as fingerprint terminal operators was central to improving discipline and accountability among teachers in public schools.
According to them, they were responsible for monitoring attendance and punctuality through biometric systems, ensuring that teachers resumed duties on time and delivered lessons as required.
“Our work was not ordinary. We helped strengthen the education system by ensuring teachers were present and active in classrooms. This contributed directly to effective teaching and learning across Bauchi State,” Alfa said.
The group argued that their removal could weaken the accountability framework within schools, potentially reversing gains made in enforcing discipline among teaching staff.
Sudden Disengagement Sparks Anger
The workers expressed shock over the manner of their disengagement, alleging that they were neither given prior notice nor an opportunity to defend their positions before the decision was taken.
“It is heartbreaking that after years of sacrifice, we were disengaged without any form of legal warning or fair hearing. This action is not only unjust but also deeply painful,” the statement read.
They described the decision as a violation of basic labour expectations, adding that many of them had relied entirely on the job as their sole source of income.
Families Thrown Into Hardship
Beyond the loss of employment, the workers highlighted the broader social impact of the disengagement, noting that over 200 households have been pushed into financial uncertainty.
“Today, our families are suffering. Many of us have no alternative means of livelihood. Feeding, paying rent, and meeting basic needs have become serious challenges,” Alfa lamented.
The emotional toll has also been significant, with many affected workers struggling to cope with the sudden loss of stability after years of service.
Call for Reinstatement and Inclusion
The group is now appealing to the Bauchi State Government to review the decision and reinstate them into the system, preferably as permanent staff.
They also called for priority consideration in the ongoing recruitment exercise within the education sector, citing their experience, training, and qualifications as key advantages.
“We are not asking for special treatment. We are only asking for fairness and an opportunity to continue contributing to the development of our state. Many of us hold ND, NCE, and degree certificates, and we are fully capable of handling responsibilities within the system,” Alfa said.
According to the workers, absorbing them into permanent roles would help maintain stability in school monitoring processes and preserve institutional knowledge.
Government Yet to Respond
Efforts to get an official response from the Bauchi State Ministry of Education have not yielded any clear position, as the Information Officer, Jalaluddeen Usman, confirmed awareness of the situation but declined to comment on the workers’ appeal.
“There is no reaction as regards their appeal,” he said briefly.
The silence from authorities has further heightened anxiety among the affected workers, who fear their situation may not be urgently addressed.
Growing Concern Over Casualisation
The development has sparked wider concerns about the growing reliance on casual labour in public institutions and the lack of clear transition pathways to permanent employment.
For the affected workers, however, the issue remains deeply personal a struggle for dignity, survival, and recognition after years of service to the state education system.
As they await government intervention, uncertainty continues to hang over the future of more than 200 families whose livelihoods now depend on the outcome of the appeal.