Candidates kick as Ogun ‘cancels’ recruitment of teachers

Shortlisted candidates for employment into the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), yesterday, alleged that the state government had cancelled the recruitment exercise.

The state government started the recruitment of 1,500 teachers in the last quarter of 2019 and qualified applicants were later shortlisted for interviews.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought about the closure of schools for almost six months, stalled the exercise. The applicants yesterday protested at the Governor’s Office, carrying placards with various inscriptions begging Governor Dapo Abiodun to release their appointment letters.

But the state government announced fresh process of recruiting some teachers who would serve as interns for a period of two years.
The candidates expressed fears that the government had subtly cancelled their recruitment and opted for new approach.

An applicant from Abeokuta South, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, Yemi Oyeleye, appealed to the governor to consider them for the job, having waited for many months. He said they were shocked to see another statement from the Education Commissioner announcing the recruitment of teachers as interns.

According to him, some of them were sacked by their employers after the state government announced that their appointment letters were ready.

In his reaction, the State Chairman of SUBEB, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, denied cancellation of the process, but blamed the delay on paucity of funds.

He said: “The board did not cancel the appointment. This is a kind of let’s say interim thing. It is a contract for two years. We have not cancelled their recruitment; it is still there.

“But, if they want to partake in this new recruitment, they are free to take part.

“Government did not forget them, it is the situation of things and paucity of funds. But, the interim recruitment is available for them to partake.”