The Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Kassim Mohammed-Kassim, has suspended the Education Secretary of Lafia Local Government Area, Mr. Usman Aliyu, for failing to be present at his duty post during an official visit.
The suspension was announced on Thursday during an unscheduled inspection tour by Dr. Mohammed-Kassim to various schools and Local Education Authority (LEA) offices in Lafia. The visit was aimed at assessing teaching quality, staff presence, and the state of facilities in basic education schools across the area.
According to the SUBEB boss, Mr. Aliyu’s absence during the official visit was unacceptable and showed a lack of commitment to his duties. He stressed that leadership at the local level must set the right example, especially in the education sector.
“I came to inspect the schools and meet with the Education Secretary for a briefing on the state of schools under his care. Unfortunately, he was not on duty and no explanation was provided for his absence,” Dr. Mohammed-Kassim stated.
He added that the suspension is intended to serve as a warning to other officials who may be tempted to neglect their responsibilities, noting that the state government is serious about improving the quality of education and accountability at all levels.
During the tour, Dr. Mohammed-Kassim also observed a shortage of teachers in several public primary schools and assured that recruitment efforts are underway to address the problem.
He explained that new teachers would be deployed especially to rural areas, where there is a significant lack of teaching staff due to the over-concentration of teachers in urban schools.
To further support learning in underserved communities, the SUBEB chairman revealed that teachers currently working under Parents Teachers Associations (PTA) would soon be absorbed into the board as full-time employees. He urged the affected PTA teachers to remain patient as the necessary procedures for their employment are being finalized.
“I want to assure all PTA teachers that this administration recognizes your efforts. We are working out modalities to absorb you officially, and your contributions to our education system will not go unnoticed,” he said.
Dr. Mohammed-Kassim, who was recently appointed to head SUBEB, thanked Governor Abdullahi Sule for the opportunity to serve. He pledged to carry out his duties with dedication and transparency, adding that revitalizing basic education is a priority for the current administration.
The inspection tour is part of a broader effort to raise education standards across Nasarawa State and ensure that public officials are held accountable for their roles in supporting that goal.
