Hands Off Teachers’ Recruitment, RVHA Tells Commissioner

Following explanations by the Commissioner for Education, Ms Alice Lawrence Nemi, when she appeared before the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday, lawmakers have directed the Ministry of Education to hand over the continuation of the 13,000 teachers’ recruitment exercise to the education boards.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, announced the resolution of the lawmakers after an exhaustive questioning of the Education Commissioner for hijacking the powers vested on the State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) and the Senior Secondary Education Board (SSEB).

Hon Amachree directed that the boards should take over the exercise, noting that the duty of recruitment fell within the purview of the boards while the ministry plays supervisory role.

According to him, “you have agreed here that it is not your function as laid out by the law of the state and therefore you acted illegally by usurping the powers of the boards.”

The speaker also directed that considering the plight of those already in the interview process, the suspension earlier placed on the exercise had been lifted to ensure that the education programme of the state goes on unhindered.

Responding to issues raised by the lawmakers, the Education Commissioner, said the role of her ministry was to formulate policies, monitor, supervise, build and maintain education infrastructure in the state and does not include recruitment of teachers.

She explained that the vision to employ qualified teachers for the state was the outcome of an education Retreat in Calabar in 2009, thereafter approval was given by the state Governor for the exercise, adding that the ministry constituted a four-member committee with the Permanent Secretary as chairman.

The commissioner explained that the chairman of the UBEB and SSEB were members of the committee with herself and the decision to use consultants for the recruitment process was agreed upon.

The commissioner admitted that the passion to get qualified teachers to match the infrastructure provided in the new schools was the driving force to recruit the best.

She further explained that the state Executive Council had also approved about N1 billion for the salaries of the 13,000 new teachers to be engaged at the end of the process.

On the amount of money spent so far in the process and the funds realised from the sale of scratch cards purchased by 42,000 applicants, the commissioner and the Permanent Secretary could not reconcile their accounts, while the intervention of the Director of Finance in the ministry was not helpful either.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Ofuru, however agreed that the sum of N50,400,000 was realised from the applicants purchase of scratch cards which he alleged was paid to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that conducted the aptitude test and carried out the screening exercise.

It would be recalled that the Assembly after exhaustive debate on the motion brought by Hon Ibiso Nwuche invited the Education Commissioner to appear before the House for explanation on the performance of the teachers recruitment exercise by the Ministry, a function given to the education boards by law.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru (right), being received by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Ms Kadilo Brown, during the 2012 Community Development Day celebration, at Community Development Training Centre, Aluu, yesterday. With them is Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Ngo Martyns-Yellowe (middle) Photo: Chris Monyanaga