By Our Correspondent
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa in Nigeria central state has restated the commitment of his administration to employ 1, 500 competent and qualified secondary school teachers in order to meet the manpower demands of the education sector of the state.
Governor Sule made this known while inaugurating the Chairman and members of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), as well as that of the Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission, at the Government House on Wednesday.
While recalling the botched teachers recruitment exercise by the sacked management of the Nasarawa State Teacher’s Service Commission, the Governor disclosed that a fresh plan has been completed to employ 1500 instead of the 1000 earlier approved by his administration.
He said that a new process for the recruitment of the teachers has already been set in motion, with a consultant hired to screen the over 3000 applicants from the past recruitment exercise.
Governor Sule however warned elected and appointed government officials, as well as civil servants, from unnecessary interference by allowing the consultants carry out their responsibility without let or hindrance.
He explained that his administration deemed it necessary to hire a consultant to recruit the teachers, not only because of the recent experience but because of the desire to get competent and qualified teachers that would be deployed to secondary schools across the state.
“As you are aware, we are interested in ensuring that we have the right teachers for our secondary schools. I know you are aware also that the recent employment by the Teacher’s Service Commission was done out of line. The TSC had the opportunity and the approval to employ 1000 teachers. Unfortunately, after the employment of the 1000 teachers, they went ahead into what I can be called scam to employ additional over 2000 teachers. The TSC officials were sacked and we brought in new set of people.
“From Tuesday, a new process has began. The process is to ensure that we have the competent teachers for our schools. If we do not have the right people, who can teach in our secondary schools we will continue to have the same problems we have in the state.
“I urge you and plead with the public, both elected, appointed officials, as well as all those in government, to allow this team that we brought all the way from outside the state so that they can do their work independently. I have no intention of asking them to select any one person from my side. I pray that you will also have no intention to allow them to do that so that at the end of the day, we will have competent teachers, qualified teachers with the right knowledge with the right competences who will be able to teach our students,” he stated.
The Governor further urged the consultant handling the recruitment exercise to carry out their responsibility without fear or favour, while calling on the applicants to make themselves available unfailingly for screening and subsequent interview.
“I know there are over 3000 innocent people who have received letters of employment from this scam. We are hoping every one of them will go through the screening. I hope and pray that nobody should stay at home until after the exercise before coming out to make unnecessary demands.
The Governor assured that instead of the 1000 teachers that was earlier approved, 1500 will now be employed while those who may not be absorbed from the over 3000 already issued with appointment letters would be paid off.
“Out of our magnanimity, we said that instead of 1000, now we are employing 1500. Out of our favour also, we said the remaining 1500 that have not been employed, we will still pay them for the period that they were here so that they can be able to use the money to do something reasonable for themselves,” he said.
Swearing-in Dr. Kassim Mohammed Kassim as the new Executive Chairman of the NSUBEB, Governor Sule reiterated that since his assumption of office in 2019, his administration has continued to accord high premium to the education sector, particularly the basic education component.
While commending the immediate past chairman and management of the NSUBEB, Mohammed Danazumi, for the wonderful job they have done, he charged Dr. Kassim to hit the ground running by consolidating on the gains so far recorded.
“I have no doubt that given your antecedents and pedigree, you will exert more energy and build teamwork in your collective responsibility of realising the objective of the board for the benefit of all,” he said.
The Governor directed the new Executive Chairman to immediately act on the recent recruitment of additional teachers for primary schools in the state, by reviewing what transpired after the committee saddled with the recruitment submitted the list of successful applicants to th outgone management.
“I urge the Chairman and members of the Board to, therefore, swing into action by reviewing what has already been released to you and immediately meet the manpower needs of the people in our education sector,” he directed.
This is just as Governor Sule frowned at redundancy by staff of local government areas of the state.
Inaugurating Mustapha Aliyu as the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission, the Governor decried the situation where some of the councils have become grounds for mere collection of monthly salary, with staff adding no value whatsoever to the system.
He warned that his administration would no longer condone redundancy by staff of local government areas, who mostly relocate to city centres and return to base only at the end of the month.
“I note with dissatisfaction that some local government councils have become grounds for many workers in the payment vouchers but no justification for the job placement. The staff have become monthly salary collectors who have relocated to cities and wait for the month end to collect salaries with no value addition to their respective areas. This must stop if we want to make progress in the state,” he added.
He pointed out that the full financial autonomy granted local governments in the state was meant to boost socio-economic activities at the grassroots, urging the commission on the realisation of this objective.
“The Commission must ensure the realisation of this objective through the enhancement of manpower development. I am optimistic that the appointment of the new Chairman and some members to the commission, you will continue to work together in harmony to ensure regular supervision, regulation, recruitment, promotion, discipline, training and indeed, appropriate placement of personnel in line with the mandate of the commission,” he said.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the newly inaugurated officials, Mustapha Aliyu, Chairman, Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission, thanked Governor Sule for finding them worthy of the appointments, pledging to support the Governor to exceed all expectations in service delivery to the people of the state.
Earlier in a welcome address, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, PhD, said the swearing-in ceremony was in fulfilment of the resolution of the administration to reinvigorate governance. (www.krestnews.com).