The Jigawa State Government has directed 244 teachers who abandoned their duties to refund salaries received during their absence or return to work.
The Executive Secretary of Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Haruna Musa, disclosed this while speaking on to the fate of the affected teachers.
He stated that the teachers had been absent from school for several months while still collecting salaries.
Musa alleged that some of the teachers hired unqualified individuals to cover for them, paying them meager amounts.
“Some of the teachers hired somebody with no teaching qualification and background to cover for them, and when they receive their salary, they only give them N20,000, N10,000 or even N5,000 every month.
He said, “It’s quite unfortunate that these teachers are sabotaging government efforts in fighting the out-of-school-children syndrome, which state government will not tolerate.
“It’s unfortunate those who are supposed to support the system (teachers) are not doing what they are supposed to do, and for that reason many learners are not in school.
“So long our teachers are not in schools and are not ready to go to the classroom we will continue to have these kinds of problems. Learning crises will continue and the governor is making efforts to see that the learning process improve,” he said.
He stressed that this behaviour undermines government efforts to address the out-of-school children syndrome.
The Executive Secretary urged the affected teachers to either return to their schools to teach for the months they were paid without working or refund the salaries collected.
He noted that failure to comply may result in termination of appointments or other penalties.
“All we are asking is to let them go back to their various schools and teach for the months they collected salary without working or let them come and pay back the government in cash before they will continue to receive their monthly salaries,” he said.