Benue suspends teacher recruitment as SUBEB shortlists ‘unqualified’ candidates

The Benue house of assembly has directed the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to halt the ongoing teacher recruitment process.

Douglas Akya, an APC lawmaker representing Makurdi South, tabled the matter before the house during plenary on Thursday.

Peter Ipusu, an APC lawmaker representing Katsina-Ala West, co-moved the motion.

Akya noted that the job advertisement placed by SUBEB gave the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor in Education (B. ED) as requirements for employment.

He said that in November 2024, the board released names of successful applicants in the CBT conducted and subsequently scheduled the applicants for screening beginning on December 2, 2024.

Akya further stated that the board had shortlisted graduates who did not have qualifications in education contrary to the requirements specified in the advertisement released before the test was conducted.

He said the Benue SUBEB failed to shortlist qualified candidates for the exercise.

“The manipulative picture portrayed by this development goes against the governor’s good intention to uplift the standard of education and revamp public primary schools,” Akya said.

Akya commended Hyacinth Alia, the state governor, for approving the employment of teachers to revive basic education in Benue.

He urged the house to invite the SUBEB chairman to explain the sudden introduction of those with non-professional degrees in education with cut-off marks of just 25 percent for the same aptitude test that NCE and B.ED holders were required to take.

Alfred Berger (APC/Makurdi North) seconded the motion, stressing that their constituents depend on them to sanitise the system.

Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East), during his contribution, called for the suspension of the recruitment exercise indefinitely.

Peter Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala West) corroborated Audu’s stand, adding that a committee be set to investigate the process of the exercise.

Jonathan Agbidye (APC/Katsina-Ala East) argued that it was the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) that was saddled with the responsibility of recruiting teachers.

Agbidye added that the authority usually conducts the recruitment of the junior staff, stating that even for the senior staff, the authority conducts the exercise while the SUBEB supervises.

Hyacinth Dajo, the speaker of the house, directed the board to suspend the exercise indefinitely.

Dajo further directed the chairman of the board to appear before the house at an executive session.

In August, Benue concluded an arrangement to recruit 9,700 teachers to bridge an existing gap in the state’s student-teacher ratio.