Nasarawa on course to recruit 4,700 teachers

By NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia

The Nasarawa State government said it is on course to achieve its target of recruiting 4,700 teachers for primary and secondary schools.

This was made known by Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media on Public Affairs, at a briefing in Lafia, on Tuesday.

Ahemba said the previous leadership of Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education, NSUBEB started the process.

“Just recently, His Excellency, Gover A.A. Sulel directed the new management of NSUBEBB to resume the recruitment of about 4,700 teachers for our schools. As we speak, the State Universal Basic Education under the able leadership of Dr. Kassim Mohammed Kassim, is doing well in this direction. And arrangements have been concluded to ensure that the list of successful applicants is released for posting an commencement of work in our primary schools immediately.

“As we speak, the board has sent the list of those who will be recruited to the State Ministry of Education for vetting, to ensure that the right thing is done, and as soon as the Ministry is done with the vetting, it will be sent back to the Board for vetting and successful applicants can be invited and interviewed.”

He said multiple layers of initiatives have been put in place to ensure transparency in the process as well as public trust, accountability which aims to bring the desired results in the state’s school system.

The SSA noted that of that number, 1,500 will be deployed to secondary schools while the rest will be assigned to teach in the primary schools. Beside the teachers, he said teachers in service are being retrained while the government provides physical infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning in the schools.

The government’s spokesman also commented on efforts by the government to curb the incidences of security breach around border communities.

He said there is an ongoing collaboration between Benue and Nasarawa State at the highest level, to ensure that the herder-farmer crises end. Internally, the SSA said, improved security arrangements have been made ot make sure that every resident and visitor in the State is safe.

He also said the Nasarawa State government has provided some relief materials to those taking refuge in other towns like Giza, Agyragau, Kadarko as they fled the attacks.

Ahemba also gave a rundown of some projects undertaken by the government in infrastructural development. Among these, he said, are the Akwanga flyover, Keffi flyover to ensure smooth and safe traffic movement in the State.

He also listed government’s investment in building a five-star hotel in Lafia, as a way of promoting tourism and opening up up the State capital to the business community.