NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia

The Nasarawa State government says the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule is on course to achieve its target of recruiting 4,700 teachers. Those recruited will teach in the state-owned 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 already the previous leadership of Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education, NSUBEB, had begun started the process. “Just recently, His Excellency, Governor 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 the commencement of work in our primary schools immediately. As we speak, the boardhas 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. Besides 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 breaches 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.  Meanwhile, he said the Nasarawa State government has provided some relief materials to those taking refuge in other towns like Giza, Agyragau, and 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 and, Keffi flyover to ensure smooth and safe traffic movement in the State. He also listed the government’s investment in building a five-star hotel in Lafia as a way of promoting tourism and opening up the State capital to the business community.