February 10, (THEWILL) – The Kogi State Government has denied the alleged plan to sack teachers, who are not members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.
Kogi Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones, made the denial in a statement while reacting to media reports on alleged plans by the State Government to sack teachers based on their political affiliation.
He described the report as fake, baseless and a “figment of the imagination of unscrupulous individuals masquerading under the guise of opposition, with the intention to create disaffection amongst teachers and workers in the State.
“As a matter of fact, the State Government is about releasing the list of 1,500 successful applicants to be employed as teachers in the State Secondary Schools in the first phase of ongoing recruitment exercise.”
Jones said in the just concluded exercise carried out to recruit teachers, nobody was asked to show his or her party membership card.
He added that at no time was any directive issued to Local Government Chairmen as contained in the report to compile names of Teachers not sympathetic to APC.
According to Jones, the Yahaya Bello administration places premium on the recruitment and improvement of the welfare of Teachers and workers.
He said the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the State, publicly commended the State Government for the release of promotion and payment of arrears, adding that those behind the misinformation are enemies and agents of the devil.
Jones was emphatic that no compilation of names of teachers as falsely claimed by the mischief makers was ever contemplated, adding that the administration of Gov Bello has repositioned the education sector to the admiration of the people.
He pointed out that the State Government had in the last seven years, made the building and renovation of primary schools a priority, adding that the GYB Model Science Secondary Schools across the State are another signature of the administration.
Jones also reaffirmed the determination of the Government to allow the people to freely make their choice in the forthcoming elections.
The Commissioner, therefore, cautioned against yellow journalism, noting that balanced and unbiased reportage will deepen democracy in the country.
