Niger govt cancels recruitment of 2,500 teachers over alleged scam

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has cancelled the recruitment of 2,500 teachers by Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) over alleged fraud in the exercise.

The governor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel Berje, said the exercise was cancelled over illegal dealings by some officials of NSUBEB who handled the exercise.

The statement read: “Niger State Government has announced the immediate cancellation of the recent recruitment exercise of 2,500 teachers carried out by the NSUBEB.”

Major stakeholders including parents of applicants for the job placements had cried foul over the handling of the exercise after the final lists were published at the headquarters of each of the 25 local government areas of the state last week.

They accused the board of marginalising them, especially the non-indigenes whereas they performed brilliantly in the written examinations and oral tests carried out by NSUBEB.

Read also: How Kogi PDP gov’s candidate campaign vehicle killed four inside kiosk

The statement added: “This action followed complaints and general public outcry over the processes that led to the selection and issuance of appointment letters to the people recruited.

“It is alleged that appointment letters were sold out to the highest bidders, while placements and postings were done without due process, and in gross disregard as well as a violation of the laid down procedure.

“The alleged irregularities and malpractices in the teachers’ recruitment exercise and appointments letters issued necessitated the cancellation of the recruitment exercise by the state government.

“The entire selection and appointment processes will be investigated, revalidated and strengthened to ensure that only those who are really qualified are recruited.

The governor, however, assured that “those who have already received their appointment letters and are truly eligible have nothing to fear during the revalidation exercise.”

He disclosed that the government would issue a statement on the “new guidelines for the selection and revalidation processes within the shortest time possible.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now