By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku, Lafia
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has assured citizens of fairness and transparency as it begins a detailed investigation into the recruitment of over 3,000 teachers in the state.
The Chairman of the 8-man Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Daniel Oga Ogazi (APC, Kokona East), gave the assurance during the committee's inaugural sitting in Lafia on Tuesday.
The probe comes in the wake of public outcry and concerns over irregularities in the recruitment process by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Addressing journalists after engaging the former management of the TSC led by its ex-Secretary, Hon. Usman Labaran Shafa, Ogazi emphasized that the committee’s mandate is rooted in constitutional responsibility—not a witch-hunt.
“We are here to unravel the facts surrounding the recruitment process. Our duty is to ensure that the truth prevails and that justice is done,” Ogazi stated.
He revealed that the initial recruitment of 1,000 teachers was duly approved by Governor Abdullahi Sule and conducted in line with civil service rules, including a Computer-Based Test (CBT) and interviews.
However, controversy erupted following an additional approval for 500 more teachers, which allegedly opened the floodgates to irregularities. According to Ogazi, the number ballooned to 1,965 due to undue interference by unnamed government officials and political stakeholders, many of whom submitted candidate lists outside the approved quota.
“That was when things fell apart. Letters were allegedly sold, and unqualified persons were employed. The Governor promptly dissolved the former TSC management based on the recommendation of a previously constituted committee,” he added.
Hon. Ogazi disclosed that a consultant was later engaged to handle the process, further complicating the situation by disrupting the validity of the original 1,000 appointments. This development prompted the Assembly to intervene.
“We are now examining the entire process holistically. Justice must be served to ensure the integrity of our education system is protected,” he said.
In his testimony, Hon. Usman Labaran Shafa, a former member representing Toto/Gadabuke and ex-TSC Secretary, maintained that the initial 1,000 appointments were legitimate and followed due process.
“We conducted CBT and interviews before issuing appointment letters. The issue arose when more names were smuggled into the process, raising the number to nearly 2,000. There were even cases of fake appointment letters bearing forged signatures,” Shafa stated.
It would be recalled that on June 11, 2025, the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Danladi Jatau, inaugurated the Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the controversial recruitment process. The Committee is chaired by Hon. Ogazi, who also chairs the House Committee on Rules and Business.
The Committee is expected to summon all key stakeholders and ensure that merit, transparency, and fairness are upheld in the recruitment of teachers across the state.
