Employment racketeering has allegedly hit the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) as a yet-to-be-identified individual is reportedly extorting money from an unsuspecting public seeking a teaching job.
A government official told newsmen yesterday that a certain person, who claimed to be an aide to Governor Samuel Ortom, asked him to get names of 10 persons from his area to be recruited as teachers, as they were engaging teachers in all the local councils.
“Unknown to me, some of my people had paid between N10,000 and N15,000 to the person’s account. When I got the information that it was a fraud, I stopped others from paying into the account and went to SUBEB office in Makurdi to report the matter.
“I urged the board to investigate the matter critically because I suspect that the man might be working in connivance with a staff of the board,” he said.
But the SUBEB Chairman, Joseph Utse, debunked the rumour that the board had commenced recruitment of teachers, even as he disowned the person engaged in the dubious act.
Utse said though the state government planned to recruit more teachers in the state, modalities were still underway, adding that “when the final approval is given,” the exercise would be done transparently.
His words: “This is a case of someone wanting to tarnish the image of the board. I will like that person to be arrested. I will dig into the root of the act.
“This is also meant to destroy the image of the governor. I have held meetings with my staff and signed a form of secrecy. If any of them is found wanting, they will be made to face the law. I will still investigate my house and if anyone is found guilty, he/she will be sacked. We must get permission from the governor before we commence recruitment.”
Speaking on the issue, Governor Samuel Ortom said he was unaware of the dubious act, intimating that the recruitment of teachers had not even commenced.
His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Terver Akase, said: “The recruitment is going to be done transparently and no one will be asked to pay money. The governor has not mandated or delegated anyone to collect money for any recruitment. If there is anyone involved in such activities, a thorough investigation will be made and if found guilty, such a person will be sacked immediately.
“The governor is not aware that his aide is involved and such a person has no mandate if it is true. If there is anyone whose money had been collected on account of a promise to be given a job, such person should go back and demand their money.”
