Nasarawa State House of Assembly says the state has a shortfall of not less than 3,700 primary school teachers.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Science, and Technology, Hon. Danladi Jatau, disclosed this during his visit to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) office in Lafia, the state capital.
Jatau told the SUBEB chairman, Hon. Muhammad Musa Dan’azimi, to act swiftly on fixing the shortfall by seeking approval from the state governor.
He noted that the committee had discovered the vacancies in the state primary schools, which had been left unattended.
The current vacuum, it was gathered, was created due to teachers’ retirements, deaths, and other circumstances in the state.
The chairman, while explaining their reason for the visit, noted that the committee was at the SUBEB office to inspect the 2023 budget performance of the board
“We are here to assess your board’s 2023 budget performance with the view to address any challenge if discovered.”
“No society will achieve speedy development without a sound education, especially primary education, which is the foundation of all education.”
While speaking on teachers’ salaries, the committee advised the local government authorities to transfer the payment of salaries for teachers to the board for better efficiency.
The committee also revealed that 137 contracts awarded by the board in the state have been abandoned.
“Revoke all contracts that the contractors are yet to report to the site. They cannot hold the state to ransom.”
In his remark, the state’s SUBEB chairman reemphasized the need for primary school teachers in the state.
“We are currently in urgent need of teachers,” he said.
Dan’azimi revealed that about 3,700 vacancies were created from 2011 to 2023, due to transfer, retirement, death, and other circumstances.
