By Samson Obande,  Lafia.

The Chairman, Council of Traditional Chiefs in Nasarawa State and Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed I (rtd), has urged the Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, NSUBEB, Dr. Kassim Muh’d Kassim, to reject any “private list” of recruitment from politicians.

The Emir gave the charge when Dr. Kassim paid him a visit at the Palace in Lafia to brief him on new policies and challenges facing the board.

Justice Bage said he would stand by the NSUBEB chairman to ensure that only candidates who passed the written and oral interview are recruited. He stressed that it is time the basic education sector was handed over to competent and qualified teachers. 

“Only those who pass the written interview should be recruited. It’s high time the basic education sector was handed over to competent and qualified teachers that can teach our children,” the Emir said.

He expressed satisfaction with Dr. Kassim’s performance within his short time in office and pledged the traditional council’s support to help him actualize his vision for basic education in the state.

The Emir commended the board’s efforts to revive basic education and urged stakeholders to support merit-based recruitment for the good of pupils across Nasarawa State.

In his remarks, Dr. Kassim said about 6,827 applicants sat for the written and oral interview for the recruitment of 1,000 primary school teachers in the state.

He noted that only 580 candidates scaled through the examinations conducted by a consultant.

The NSUBEB chairman said he is under pressure from politicians and other interest groups to accommodate unqualified teachers who either failed the exams or did not participate at all.

“Only those who genuinely participated in the written examinations and passed will be given the job,” Dr. Kassim vowed.

He added that the board remains committed to restoring standards, improving learning outcomes, and ensuring transparency in the recruitment process.