Group Petitions Gov. Sule Over Alleged Irregular Transfers, Financial Inducements in Educ Ministry

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has been called upon to investigate recent alleged irregular postings, transfers, and financial inducements in the State Ministry of Education, North Central Nigeria.

The petition, signed by one Timothy Shekwo, described the recent postings and transfers of principals, vice principals, and education officers within the Nasarawa State Ministry inistry of Education, as an “issue of serious concern.”

The group alleged that the matter has generated allegations of non-compliance with civil service rules, disregard for seniority and professional suitability, arbitrary placement, informal directives, and financial inducements.

“I therefore respectfully request an impartial, confidential, and properly documented investigation, more so that the supposed transfer letters were hand written.

“Postings and transfers should ordinarily be guided by lawful administrative criteria, institutional needs, professional competence, seniority, school grading and documented decisions.

“Allegations that officers might had secured preferred postings through financial payments, if substantiated, will raise serious concerns regarding public-service ethics, merit, accountability, and public confidence in the Ministry, ” the petition stated.

The group said officers on substantially lower grade levels were reportedly deployed to assume responsibilities previously held by principals in higher cadres and on considerably higher grade levels.

It added, “for the fact that government has the lawful authority to deploy personnel in the public interest, such authority should be exercised transparently, rationally and for identifiable administrative reasons.

“For instance, the deployment of an officer on GL 12 to assume responsibilities previously performed by a Principal on GL 15, without a clear and documented administrative justification, warrants formal review.”

“We therefore respectfully urge that the investigation should examine whether school grading, cadre, seniority, experience, competence, and institutional requirements were properly considered and documented in the affected postings.”

The group, which gave the names of victims affected by the shoody deals, claimed that some individuals gave out financial inducements ranging from N700,000 to N1,000,000 to effect their transfers and postings to supposed juicy offices and/or lucrative schools.

A reliable source also lamented that the alleged rot in the education ministry has been on for several years now, mostly especially the teachers’ salaries being slashed arbitrarily without any explanation.

The source further alleged, ” Hazard allowance doesn’t go to teachers, while their promotions are without commensurate payments.

“Salaries or take home pay of teachers in the state especially those on GL 13 to GL 15 are between N120,000 and N150,000 only without the steps being put into consideration.”

The Ministry rakes the sum of N125 million as yearly PTA levies from a total number of 71, 471 students in the State 418 functional public schools aside N21.4 million unspecified levy.

Responding, the State Commissioner for education, Mr John Mamman, denied any discrepancies in the recent transfers, which affected only principals and other education officers in Keffi and Karu LGAs

Mamman, who cautioned against what were flying in the social media, said he was not aware of any financial inducement in respect to the transfers.

On the poor salary structure of the state, especially the education ministry, the commissioner said, “There is nothing wrong or strange with workers salaries in Nasarawa State. ”

The Commissioner, who pledged to look into the transfer saga and other sundry allegations, lauded Gov Abdullahi Sule’s developmental strides and concern for workers’ welfare.