By Muhammed Danjuma Ogwu, Lafia
In a sweeping move to restore accountability and improve basic education, the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Dr. Kassim Muhammad-Kassim, has ordered the immediate redeployment of 1,300 administrative staff across the state.
The redeployment affects staff from the 13 local government areas and 18 development areas in Nasarawa State. Out of a total of 3,422 administrative staff, the affected personnel—those with teaching qualifications—are to return to the classrooms without delay.
Dr. Kassim issued the directive on Wednesday during a meeting with educational secretaries in Lafia, the state capital.
He expressed shock over reports and first-hand evidence that furniture supplied to primary schools for pupils’ use had been diverted and sold to private schools and households.
“It is unacceptable that pupils are sitting on the floor while government-supplied furniture is being sold by education secretaries and headmasters to private entities,” he said. “I have visited schools and seen children on bare floors, even when records show furniture was delivered. This will not be tolerated under my watch.”
To tackle the situation, Dr. Kassim announced that he would collaborate with the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to investigate and arrest individuals or institutions found in possession of SUBEB furniture.
He criticized the situation where there are too many supervisors in administrative roles while rural schools suffer from a lack of teachers. “We cannot have rural schools without teachers, yet have hundreds sitting in offices as supervisors. What exactly are they supervising?” he queried.
The chairman directed that the 1,300 affected administrative staff be immediately posted to rural schools where their teaching services are needed most.
Dr. Kassim also disclosed that the state government has approved the recruitment of 4,800 qualified teachers under a special initiative tagged “Recruitment of Teachers in Rural Areas.” He emphasized that no new recruit would be posted to urban schools, as the focus is to revive rural education and make it attractive for parents in remote communities.
“This will not be business as usual,” he warned. “Our priority is rural schools. We must ensure they are functional and properly equipped.”
On welfare, Dr. Kassim cautioned education secretaries against making illegal deductions from teachers’ salaries, except on disciplinary grounds and with board approval.
“Our teachers are already poorly paid. Any further deductions are unacceptable. Any education secretary who disobeys this directive will be held responsible,” he said.
He also warned against the unauthorized allocation of school lands to private businesses, saying such actions would require direct board approval. He revealed plans to establish a maintenance unit in every local government area to protect SUBEB facilities.
Speaking on project delivery, the chairman pledged to hold contractors accountable for substandard work. He vowed that any poorly executed project would either be revoked or payment withheld until the work meets approved standards.
“We cannot continue renovating the same school structures year after year. It means something is wrong. No contractor will be paid until we are satisfied with the quality of work,” Dr. Kassim declared.
He concluded by reiterating his commitment to transforming the education sector in the state, even if it means stepping on toes.