Teachers’ recruitment: Benue Assembly, SUBEB clash over alleged demand for slots

The Benue State House of Assembly and the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, have clashed over alleged demand for recruitment slots.

Newspot recalls that the State House of Assembly had suspended the recruitment of primary school teachers over claims of irregularities in the recruitment exercise.

The Assembly also summoned the SUBEB Chairman, Dr. Grace Adagba.

However, emerging reports suggest the lawmakers’ move might be connected to a request for recruitment slots, which SUBEB allegedly refused to grant.

Sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity with our reporter, claimed the lawmakers requested 1,000 slots for their people, but SUBEB refused, insisting on a fair recruitment process.

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According to the sources, the recruitment exercise was suspended because SUBEB rejected the lawmakers’ demand. But the Assembly claims it is due to irregularities in the recruitment exercise.

A letter seen by Newspot, titled ‘Request for Employment Slot’, requested slots for Assembly members’ constituents.

The letter dated September 9, 2024, was signed by Igyundu Fidelis Denen on behalf of Cyphas Tervershima Dyako, Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Education.

Parts of the letter read: “In view of the ongoing recruitment of 9,700 teachers at SUBEB, the Committee kindly requests your office to provide one thousand (1,000) slots to Honorable members of the House for their constituents.

“You are reminded to provide six (6) bound copies of information requested by the House… to reach the Committee Clerk on or before Friday, 13th September 2024.”

It was gathered that SUBEB refused to yield to the lawmakers’ demand insisting on maintaining a merit-based recruitment process.

The decision reportedly led to the Assembly’s resolution to suspend the exercise and summon Adagba.

But at a plenary session chaired by Speaker, Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, the lawmakers defended the suspension by citing alleged irregularities, including the inclusion of unqualified candidates with poor test results.

This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by member representing Makurdi South Constituency, Mr Douglas Akya, who expressed concerns that the Board shortlisted graduates without qualification in education, contrary to the requirements specified in the advertisement.

Akya said the manipulation of the exercise was against the governor’s good intention to revamp public primary schools.

Seconding the motion, Deputy Whip Alfred Emberga said he received several complaints from his constituents, noting that it was not the responsibility of the Board to recruit teachers.

Meanwhile, the SUBEB chairman, Adagba is expected to appear before the Assembly next week Tuesday to address the allegations and present documents, including recruitment results and a needs assessment for teachers.