A sweeping investigation into Nasarawa State’s recruitment practices has uncovered a massive employment scandal within the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC), revealing that 2,277 teachers were illegally hired—more than triple the 1,000 approved by the state government.
The revelation came to light on Thursday when Governor Abdullahi Sule received the report from the investigative committee at the Government House in Lafia.
The findings have sent shockwaves through the state’s education sector, with Governor Sule condemning the suspended TSC officials for their role in the unauthorized recruitment.
“These people will be reported to security agencies because this is beyond administration,” Sule declared. “They collected money from desperate job seekers, extorting poor citizens who had to pay for appointment letters. That is criminal.”
The governor expressed frustration over the financial and logistical burden of accommodating thousands of unapproved hires, questioning how the state would afford their salaries or assign them to appropriate schools.
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“How do we accommodate 3,277 teachers today? Where is the money to pay them? Where are we even posting them?” Sule asked. “The biggest concern isn’t just the numbers—it’s that the entire process lacked merit. This means we have engaged individuals who may not even be qualified to teach.”
Nasarawa State, like many in northern Nigeria, has struggled with low education standards. While efforts have been made to improve learning outcomes, the governor fears this scandal could set the state back significantly.
“When education rankings are released, Nasarawa is often among the states performing poorly,” he admitted. “We’ve made some progress, but this kind of reckless recruitment can undo everything.”
To address the crisis, Governor Sule hinted at a possible fresh selection process, stating that even the 1,000 officially approved hires would be re-evaluated to ensure that only the most qualified candidates remain.
“This isn’t about politics—it’s about our children’s future,” he emphasized. “We cannot build a better society without a strong education system, and that starts with competent teachers.”
In response to concerns over the fate of the illegally recruited teachers, the governor assured that those already posted to schools would receive payment for their services but would not retain their positions.
“I assure you, those who were posted will be paid. But we cannot keep them,” he stated. “If a school only requires 40 teachers but 200 were sent there, how does that help anyone?”
