COVID-19: Kwara state protesting teachers arrested for flouting rules – Police

Kwara State Police Command confirmed that it had arrested six of the 2,414 sacked tutors in the state for allegedly flouting COVID-19 rules and protest at the State Government House in Ilorin.

Teachers employed by Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed’s administration called ‘Sunset Workers’ workers of the State Universal Basic Education Board in February 2019 were sacked by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in December 2020.

The government had advertised for new teachers to replace the sacked ones.

However, the disengaged teachers had been protesting since last week Friday, saying they should get an automatic slot for the new recruitment.

They argue that they have been employed by the state government for more than two years, and they have the requisite qualifications making them suitable for the job.

Ajayi Okasanmi, the state Police Public Relations Officer, said in a statement that the six teachers had been arrested.

He said, “This offense was committed in the process of an alleged protest by a group, called the ‘Sunset’ teachers in the Ilorin metropolis.

“Not only did they run foul of the COVID-19 guidelines, but they also in their multitude blocked the popular Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin, thereby preventing lawful users of the road of their rights of passage by disturbing the public peace, which is in contravention of Section 113 of the Penal Code.”