Edo APC, govt disagree over recruitment of 4000 teachers

The All Progressives Congress (APC) transition committee in Edo State and the state government have engaged in a war of words over the recent recruitment of 4,000 teachers by the outgoing administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Kassim Afegbua, a member of the APC transition committee, in a statement on Sunday, described the recruitment as an attempt to overload the system and lay booby traps for the incoming administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo.

He said: “The recruitment of 4,000 teachers by the outgoing government of Governor Godwin Obaseki in Edo state is an attempt to overload the system and lay booby traps for the in-coming administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo.

Afegbua said the EdoBest project was a hoax, adding that Governor Obaseki used it for his self-interest.

He stressed that the incoming administration would follow due process in recruiting teachers by prioritizing merit over partisanship.

READ ALSO: Edo: Okpebholo denies $45m flyover loan from China

However, the Edo State government countered Afegbua’s claims in a statement, labeling them “vacuous” and indicative of a lack of understanding of the current political landscape.

The state’s Commissioner for Communication and Orientation Chris Nehikhare said: “It is both laughable and concerning to witness the recent comments made by Kassim Afegbua, which seek to undermine the recruitment of dedicated teachers for Edo children.”

Nehikhare highlighted the importance of the recruited teachers in advancing the transformative Edobest programme, which has significantly improved educational standards in the state. He emphasized that the teachers were not appointed on a whim but through a rigorous selection process that began months ago.

The commissioner urged the people of Edo to dismiss Afegbua’s comments, recognizing the government’s commitment to upholding the constitution and prioritizing children’s welfare.

The disagreement between the two transition committees stems from accusations of delay tactics by the APC committee. The Obaseki administration will hand over to Governor-elect Okpebholo on November 12.

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