The Sunshine State (Ondo) Government has dismissed claims that genuine teachers were denied employment in its recent recruitment exercise, explaining that those who protested were victims of a recruitment scam.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, explaining that the protesters were not teachers but applicants deceived by fraudsters who issued them fake appointment and posting letters after extorting money from them.
According to the release, the fraud was uncovered during the biometric verification exercise, where the victims were told that their letters were forged. It added that three insiders at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) have already been sanctioned for allegedly collaborating with external persons to carry out the scam.
The government maintained that over 2,000 teachers who were duly recruited into primary and secondary schools across the state had resumed work.
According to the Press release, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has directed SUBEB to invite victims of the scam for a meeting, while a committee was set up to review the matter further.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the state government’s commitment to fairness in its recruitment process.
“The attention of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has been drawn to reports of a protest by individuals claiming to have been denied employment during the recent recruitment of teachers by the Ondo State Government through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
To clarify, those who protested were not teachers but applicants defrauded by scammers who issued fake employment and posting letters during the recruitment exercise, after collecting money from them.
These defrauded applicants were identified during the biometric verification process and informed that their letters were fake.
Already, disciplinary action has been taken against three SUBEB insiders who allegedly connived with external individuals to defraud the applicants.
The over 2000 teachers duly employed by the government for primary and secondary schools have already commenced work.
However, Mr. Governor has directed the management of SUBEB to invite the victims of the fraud for a meeting, while a committee has been constituted to further look into the matter,” the statement read.
