The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has directed the state government to exclude 1,000 newly recruited teachers currently on the government payroll from the ongoing teachers screening exercise, affirming that their employment followed due process in accordance with civil service rules.
The resolution was passed during plenary on Wednesday in Lafia, following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Daniel Ogazi, member representing Kokona East Constituency.
Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Adamu Oyanki, who presided over the session, read the House’s resolution.
According to Oyanki, the 1,000 teachers in question have been duly employed, posted to schools, and have received salaries for over nine months without any complaints regarding their performance.
The House noted that these teachers are innocent and should not be subjected to the current screening exercise.
“We commend His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule, for the recruitment of the teachers to strengthen the education sector. The House hereby directs that the consultant handling the screening exercise immediately return the appointment letters of the 1,000 teachers and ensure their continued service and salary payments,” Oyanki declared.
The Assembly also set up a six-member Adhoc Committee to investigate the activities of sacked officials of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) involved in an employment scandal.
The committee is also mandated to probe the alleged sale of over 2,000 appointment letters, which has left many qualified applicants unpaid and stranded.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Daniel Ogazi, includes Hon. Luka Iliya Zhekaba (Secretary), Hon. Barr. Esson Mairiga, Hon. Solomon Akwashiki, and Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi.
“We cannot allow the innocent 1,000 teachers who followed proper procedures to suffer for the irregularities that occurred during the recruitment of an additional 500, which led to over 2,000 illegal appointments,” Ogazi emphasized.
Several lawmakers, including Hon. Zhekaba, Barr. Mairiga, Hon. Jacob Kudu, Hon. Chunbaya Yusuf, and others, threw their weight behind the motion, describing the collection of appointment letters from the 1,000 teachers as unjust and unlawful.
The House appealed to Governor Sule to show compassion to the remaining 2,000 affected teachers, whose employment status remains unresolved, and ensure justice and fairness in addressing their plights.
This development follows the engagement of a consulting firm by the state government to screen over 3,000 newly employed teachers, amidst concerns over irregularities in the recruitment process.
