Imo 6,030 Teachers' Recruitment *Group Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plot to Replace Original Trainees* _Demand Publication of Uwajumogu College of Education Training List

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Imo 6,030 Teachers’ Recruitment

*Group Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plot to Replace Original Trainees*

_Demand Publication of Uwajumogu College of Education Training List_

A group under the umbrella of Coalition of Imo State Teachers Recruitment Beneficiaries has expressed concern over alleged attempts to manipulate the recruitment of 6,030 teachers by replacing the names of original trainees with those of individuals who did not participate in the prescribed recruitment and training exercise. They have called on the Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB) to publish the comprehensive list of candidates trained at Uwajumogu College of Education, Ihitte Uboma, to promote transparency, accountability and fairness.

The recruitment exercise, which commenced in 2023, reportedly involved a Computer-Based Test (CBT), oral interviews and intensive training at Uwajumogu College of Education. According to the stakeholders, the process established clear requirements for participation, making it imperative that the final recruitment list reflects the records of those who successfully completed the prescribed stages, including candidates on the supplementary list.

The group expressed particular concern over allegations that the Commissioner for Education, Prof. BTO Ikegwuoha, was planning to sideline some original trainees and replace their names with those of individuals who did not undergo the mandatory recruitment process. They urged the relevant authorities to investigate the allegations and ensure that the integrity of the exercise is not compromised by any form of irregularity.

They argued that any attempt to substitute the names of duly screened and trained candidates, if established, would undermine the credibility of the recruitment programme and erode public confidence in the state’s education administration. They maintained that a transparent recruitment process must be guided by merit, verifiable records and strict adherence to established procedures rather than personal interests or considerations outside the approved framework.

In another development, the group raised concerns over what they described as an alleged departure from established civil service procedures in the signing of appointment letters for the recruitment beneficiaries. They alleged that the IMSUBEB chairman, whom they described as a political appointee, had been signing the appointment letters on the instruction of the Commissioner for Education, Prof. BTO Ikegwuoha, a practice they claimed was inconsistent with the established administrative procedure for such appointments.

According to the group, the signing of appointment letters for Universal Basic Education beneficiaries is discovered to fall within the statutory and administrative responsibilities of the Director of Administration and Services (DAS), while appointment letters for secondary education beneficiaries are ordinarily signed by the Permanent Secretary. They alleged that the commissioner’s directive to the IMSUBEB chairman to sign the letters represented an unprecedented departure from the board’s historical practice. They further described the development as another source of concern over what they perceived as the commissioner’s alleged interference in the recruitment process. However, the applicable regulations and the authority under which the letters are being signed would need to be established by the relevant authorities.

Consequently, they have demanded that IMSUBEB immediately publish the original and supplementary lists of the 6,030 candidates trained at Uwajumogu College of Education, or they will be left with no choice but to publish it for the Board. They also appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma to direct the appropriate authorities to investigate the allegations, clarify the recruitment and appointment procedures, safeguard the original records and ensure that no qualified trainee is unfairly displaced. They maintained that transparency, adherence to due process and respect for established administrative responsibilities are essential to protecting the credibility and legitimacy of the exercise and ensuring that deserving candidates receive fair consideration.