Enugu Assembly nullifies 2000 teachers’ recruitment over alleged shady deal

THE Enugu State plan to recruit about 2000 to fill up vacancies in its primary education system this year has suffered a setback following the annulment of the exercise by the state House of Assembly.

The state assembly had summoned the Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Chief Ikeji Asogwa, and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Rose Chiama, to appear before it last Thursday to explain why the recruitment should not be cancelled following the outcry that trailed it.

But the lawmakers were not satisfied with the answers the Chairman of ENSUBEB gave to them on how the exercise went and the criteria that were followed in the recruitment process.

Members of the state House of Assembly who called for the cancellation of the exercise that took place recently said the exercise was not conducted in a fool-proof manner, which resulted to complaints from various quarters that there were shoddy deals noticed during the exercise.

The House reached the conclusion following the position of the ENSUBEB permanent secretary that she knew nothing about the exercise and that even the Board was not in the know. She said they were not carried along.

Asogwa’s explanation that the exercise was well conducted as the governor and even some members of the House of Assembly were privy to the exercise fell on deaf ears as he gave the impression that the would-be teachers came short of expectation and failed woefully the interview exams given to them.

The ENSUBEB boss, in his defence explained plans his board had in mind for the improvement of education at the primary school level, like their plans to provide 13,000 tables and chairs, 1,700 desks and over 70,000 books for the pupils but this could not cut any ice with the law makers.

The House members were furious that the exercise where 21,000 applied, the exercise took place just within a week to conclude both exams and interview for those shortlisted.

In summarising the position of the House, Speaker, Hon Edward Ubosi, said that the exercise is nullified immediately and a fresh one should take place after.

He said that the Board should liaise with relevant stakeholders like the Ministry of Education to conduct the future exercise.

The Speaker equally said that the proposed rescheduled exercise should take place at various local government areas of the state instead of everybody converging at Enugu, the state capital.

It was gathered that 100 teachers each were supposed to be employed from each of the 17 local government areas of the state.