Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Monday night, hailed teachers who ignored the strike called by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

Teachers in public secondary and primary schools across the state on Monday began the indefinite strike.

Reacting, El-Rufai through his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said although NUT officials tried to prevent teachers from working, many defied intimidation and reported for duty.

Samuel Aruwan said the strike action will not force the government to restore bad teachers.

He disclosed that government was collating reports over the strike from its education administrators and that teachers on strike would face the severest penalties applicable in the public service rules.

“Across the state, the illegality of the NUT’s strike action is being compounded by physical attempts to frustrate those teachers who wish to work.

“No law permits any worker to tamper with another’s right to work.

“The attention of the security agencies has been drawn to this dangerous pattern of conduct.

“The Kaduna State Government is resolute in its determination to protect the future of the children of the poor. Ordinary citizens are entitled to expect public primary schools to deliver a decent standard of education.

“At least two million pupils are enrolled in public primary schools and their interests come first.

“Government is delighted to inform the public that marking of scripts of the 43,000 applicants for teaching positions is now concluded.

“The recruitment process to inject 25,000 qualified teachers into our public schools will now move to the next phase.

“Kaduna state will not allow the selfishness of a tiny minority to ruin the future of two million children,” Aruwan added.