Recruitment Investigation: Benue Assembly Orders SUBEB Chairman to Step Down
The Benue House of Assembly has directed Dr. Grace Adagba, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), to step aside from her official duties immediately.
The decision was made during Thursday’s plenary session to facilitate an investigation into the recruitment exercise conducted by the board.
This resolution followed a motion moved by the Chief Whip, Peter Ipusu (APC, Katsina-Ala West).
Ipusu explained that the House had previously adopted a resolution instructing the SUBEB chairman to suspend the ongoing recruitment of primary school teachers to allow for a thorough investigation into the controversies surrounding the process. However, the directive was reportedly ignored.
He expressed concern that the chairman released a statement assigning new cut-off marks to various local governments based on their performance in the Computer-Based Test (CBT), which further disregarded the Assembly’s resolution. Additionally, the chairman shortlisted more names for physical screening, raising doubts about the integrity of the process.
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Alfred Berger (APC, Makurdi North), who seconded the motion, emphasized that the SUBEB chairman lacked the necessary integrity to continue overseeing the board. Berger noted that the law establishing the board gives powers to the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) to recruit teachers, with the board’s Department of Quality Assurance supervising the process.
However, Majority Leader Saater Tiseer called for fairness and urged the House not to make decisions based on prejudice. Tiseer highlighted that the chairman had arrived at the assembly as scheduled to provide explanations.
A counter-motion was raised by Anthony Agom (PDP, Okpokwu), supporting the chairman’s right to present her case. Ultimately, Speaker Hyacinth Dajo instructed the clerk, John Hwande, to conduct a division of the House. Twenty-one members voted in favor of the initial motion, while five supported the counter-motion.
Dajo concluded that the chairman should step aside immediately and hand over to the board’s permanent member 1 to allow the investigation to proceed. Additionally, a seven-member committee was constituted to investigate the recruitment exercise and provide a report within seven days.
