By NICHOLAS DECHI

The Benue Assembly has directed the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to halt the ongoing teachers recruitment process.

The house gave the order following a motion by Mr Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South) on Thursday during plenary in Makurdi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the motion was co-moved by Mr Peter Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala West).

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

He said that in November 2024, the board released names of successful applicants in the Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted and subsequently scheduled the applicants for screening beginning from December 2, 2024.

He further stated that the board had shortlisted graduates who do not have qualifications in education contrary to the requirements specified in the advertisement released prior to the test conducted.

?This is in addition to the failure of the board 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.

He commended Gov. Hyacinth Alia for approving the employment of teachers by the board to revive basic education in Benue.

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

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

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

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

Mr Jonathan Agbidye (APC/Katsina-Ala East) said 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 the senior staff, the authority conducts the exercise while the SUBEB supervises.

The Speaker, Hyacinth Dajo, directed the board to suspend the exercise indefinitely.

Dajo further directed the chairman of the board to appear before the house on Tuesday at executive session. (NAN)

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