The new Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim, has ordered the immediate suspension of salary payments to all teachers at LEA Primary School Kurmin Shinkafa in Kokona Local Government Area, following revelations of long-term absenteeism.
He issued the directive on Wednesday morning during an impromptu visit to the school, where he was met with an abandoned staffroom and unsupervised pupils roaming the premises.
During an interaction with students in the school, the NSUBEB boss learned that no teacher, including the headmaster, had been present for months, leaving the children to attend classes without instruction or supervision.
Deeply angered by the discovery, Kassim immediately ordered the stoppage of salary payments for the current month to all staff posted to the school.
He also instructed the Education Secretary of Kokona LGA to reassign all teachers from Kurmin Shinkafa to remote schools in the state, with immediate effect.
In a further disciplinary move, the NSUBEB chairman directed the affected teachers to write public apology letters addressed to both the parents of the pupils and the Nasarawa State Government through the board.
He insisted that these letters must be published on popular social media platforms within the state before their names would be considered for reinstatement on the payroll.
The chairman, while addressing the broader issue of indiscipline and negligence in the teaching sector, issued a strong warning to teachers who fail to carry out their duties.
“You cannot collect regular salaries as teachers without reporting to work; it will not be tolerated under my leadership,” he said.
“I am prepared to dismiss such teachers, as there are persons who genuinely need these jobs.
“If you do not need our job, do not need our money. We are willing to employ those who need the job and our money.”
Kassim’s surprise visit is part of a statewide accountability drive to restore discipline and improve the standard of basic education across Nasarawa State.
