The Department of State Services, DSS, has reportedly sacked 140 teachers and other staff members of its Community Staff Schools, Asokoro, Abuja for demanding better conditions of service and regularisation of their appointment.

The service also shut down the institution and directed the 1,800 pupils in the nursery/primary and secondary classes to stay at home for two weeks.

It has been gathered that all the pupils had been sent away pending the engagement of new teachers by the authorities.

Findings indicate that the primary school commenced pupil enrolment in 1992/93, while the secondary classes took off in 1998.

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Trouble began when the teachers demanded the regularisation of their appointment and an increase in their salaries and other emoluments following increase in the school tuition.

In response, the authorities issued a letter of disengagement to the workers, including the principal and other administrative officials.

Before the face-off, the fee for the nursery and primary classes was increased from N25,000 to N35,000 for children and wards of the rank and file, while children of senior DSS officers were required to pay N45,000 up from N35,000 per term.

For children of civilians, the tuition was increased from N45,000 to N60,000.

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The tuition for secondary school classes was increased from 35,000 to 45,000 for children and wards of the rank and file, while officers’ children were asked to pay N60,000 up from 40,000. Students who did not fall in either of the categories will pay N90,000 from N70,000. Other sundry charges were also said to have been increased.

However, in the letter of disengagement dated November 2, 2020, signed by the Executive Secretary, CSSA, M. Onyilo, the DSS hinged its decision to sack the school staff on poor financial situation brought about by the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s economy.

The letter titled, ‘Disengagement from the service of Community Staff Schools, Asokoro,’ reads partly, “Due to the effect of COVID-19 on the Nigerian economy vis-a-vis the crippling financial situation of the school, I am directed to convey the Director-General, State Services/Proprietor’s approval to disengage you from the services of the school with effect from 3rd November 2020.”