Nasarawa Universal Basic Education Board /Education Secretary  Lafia LGA Bickers Over Transfer Of Teachers

Rabiu Omaku

There has been unrest by the management of Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board and the Education secretary of Lafia Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Haliru Araboh over the transfer of primary school teachers, The Education secretary has insisted that the transfer done by them despite resistance by NSUBEB stands as he remained the headship of LGEA.

Araboh in an exclusive interview stressed that his office as the final arbiter vested with the responsibility of employing, promoting, transfer and discipline of teachers within his jurisdiction has the right to transfer teachers, He raised eyebrow over the role played by NSUBEB in the present imbroglio.

The Education Secretary reiterated that a sixteen (16) man committee has been set up prior to the unfolding cacophony regarding transfer of primary school teachers, following the intervention of power players in Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board and the Nigerian Union of Teachers’ (NUT).

“Universal Basic Education (UBE) law about transfer of teachers from Grade level 07-08 is silent, On assumption of office barely fifteen months I did not meet or come across any document of transfer by NSUSBEB and why was my own an exception ?Saying the education secretary of Doma is transferring staffs without any bottleneck”.

Haliru Araboh said staffs from sixty nine schools honoured the transfer while seven schools rejected the transfer, He said seven schools that rejected the transfer has been issued a query , He however said is business unusual for teachers’ rejecting duty post.

Commenting on the unfolding power play between NSUBEB and his office over the transfer of teachers’, he said it was just a meant to settle scores,” I remember one female teacher shun her new duty post, And the secretary of board called me over her case, I said she’s about retiring from service for that I should allow her to finish her few months and I accept his request” He added.

While fielding question on the statistics of school enrolment following the aftermath of communal conflict that engulfed the southern senatorial district, he explained that Lafia Local Government has experienced increasing enrolment of pupils.

The Education Secretary commended Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura for changing around the education sector, but the secretary of the board, Yakubu Ahmed could not be reached as at the time of filling this report.