CSO chides Adeleke over delay in teachers’ recruitment

• Recruitment process still ongoing – Govt

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO) in Osun State, The Osun Masterminds (TOM), has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke for failing to recruit teachers two years after his assumption of office.

Governor Adeleke had conducted tests for applicants, but no one has been issued a letter of employment.

Speaking with our correspondent in Osogbo yesterday, the Executive Secretary of TOM, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, lamented the dearth of teachers in public schools despite promises by the current administration to prioritise education.

However, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Muritala Jimoh, maintained that Adeleke’s administration is committed to recruiting teachers, stating that the process is ongoing.

The group also rated Adeleke low on transparency, claiming that his spending over the last two years has been shrouded in secrecy.

The group commended the approval of ₦75,000 as the minimum wage by Adeleke’s government and urged him to begin payment as soon as possible.

It emphasised that the state House of Assembly has not been accountable for failing to explain how it spent ₦2,330,854,962.25 by the end of Quarter 3, 2024.

The group challenged the Assembly, led by Adewale Egbedun, to explain why its ongoing projects remain incomplete to date and why it refused to provide details of its expenditure as requested by civil society organisations.

The group also demanded clarification on what is delaying plans to resuscitate the Technical Colleges after nine months, noting that the state governor has not explained his decision following the suspension of the airport relocation.

Regarding the attempt to investigate the judiciary and pardon an inmate, Segun Olowookere, who was reportedly sentenced to death for stealing a fowl, the group cautioned Governor Adeleke against infringing on the rights of the judiciary.

While acknowledging that the governor has the power to grant amnesty, the group warned that this right must be exercised with caution because the judiciary is a distinct arm of government, and no other arm should be seen as interfering or undermining it.

The group commended the drop in the price of petroleum and appealed to the federal government to ensure further reductions to ease the pressure on the average Nigerian, whose life has been made difficult since the removal of the fuel subsidy.

The group expressed displeasure over the stampedes across Nigeria, stating that “the sad occurrences are pointers to the level of hardship in Nigeria and serve as a wake-up call to the President to urgently find ways to alleviate the suffering of the common man, who has been impoverished by his government’s economic policies.”