Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has disclosed that numerous government officials participated in the unlawful sale of appointment letters to approximately 2,277 underprivileged applicants prior to their official hiring as teachers.
He intends to inform the relevant security agencies about the suspended officials of the Nasarawa State Teachers’ Service Commission (NSTSC) following allegations of extorting money from job seekers.
This revelation follows a committee report that raises significant concerns about the recent teacher recruitment process at Government House.
In response to these troubling findings, Governor Sule stressed the urgent need for intervention by security agencies, citing reports of financial transactions associated with the distribution of appointment letters.
“These individuals will be reported to the appropriate security agencies, as this issue goes beyond simple administrative matters. I do not have the authority to resolve this financial misconduct. It is crucial to engage security agencies to ensure the reimbursement of funds to the affected applicants,” he stated.
The governor voiced his disappointment with the committee’s findings. He particularly criticized the suspended NSTSC officials. They surpassed the recruitment quota established by his administration.
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He disclosed that 3,277 teachers had been appointed, significantly exceeding the approved limit of 1,000. This situation raised critical questions regarding the state’s capacity to support the additional teachers and the source of funding for their salaries.
“How can we sustain 3,277 teachers in Nasarawa State? Where will the funding for their salaries originate? What responsibilities will these teachers undertake?
The fundamental issue is that this recruitment process lacked a merit-based approach, leading to the employment of individuals who are insufficiently qualified to fulfill the role of educators,” he stated.
Concerning the 2,277 teachers hired without the requisite authorization, Governor Sule stated, “This process has been fundamentally flawed. Recruiting 3,000 teachers without a comprehensive assessment of actual needs is impractical. Recruitment ought to align with genuine requirements rather than being executed arbitrarily.”
He expressed his concerns regarding the qualifications of the 1,000 teachers who have been officially hired. He proposed that his administration may explore the possibility of initiating a new selection process for all 3,277 teachers, aiming to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are appointed.
