No fewer than 200 casual workers disengaged by the Bauchi State Ministry of Education have appealed to the state governor, Bala Mohammed, to consider them for permanent employment.
The affected workers, who served as fingerprint terminal operators, appealed to their chairman, Musa Alfa, in a statement issued on Friday.
Alfa described the disengagement as unjust, expressing what he termed “deep pain and a strong sense of injustice” over the development.
He said, “For over seven years, we have faithfully served as fingerprint terminal operators, dedicating our time, energy, and lives to supporting the education system in Bauchi State. Despite being on casual appointment, we carried out our duties with sacrifice, commitment, sincerity, and fear of God.”
According to him, the operators played a critical role in strengthening discipline and accountability in schools by ensuring teachers’ attendance and punctuality.
“Our work has not been ordinary—we ensured teachers reported to duty on time and carried out their lessons effectively, thereby supporting teaching and learning across the state,” he added.
Alfa, however, lamented that despite their years of service, they were disengaged without prior notice, fair hearing, or consideration of their contributions.
“It is heartbreaking and deeply painful that after all these years of sacrifice, we were suddenly disengaged without legal warning or fair hearing,” he said.
He further noted that the decision has thrown many families into hardship, as most of the affected workers depend solely on the job for survival.
“Today, this decision has thrown over 200 households into hardship, uncertainty, and emotional distress. Some of us have no other source of income and are struggling to feed our families,” he stated.
The chairman urged the state government to reconsider the decision and include them in the ongoing recruitment exercise, citing their experience and qualifications.
“We are already trained and experienced. Many of us hold ND, NCE, and degree certificates. All we ask for is fairness, compassion, and an opportunity to continue contributing to the development of our state,” he said.
The group specifically called for the immediate review of their disengagement, reinstatement into service, and priority consideration in the ongoing employment process.
When contacted, the Information Officer of the Bauchi State Ministry of Education, Jalaluddeen Usman, confirmed that the ministry was aware of the disengagement but declined to comment on the workers’ appeal.
“There is no reaction as regards their appeal,” he said.
