Fubara bows to pressure, recalls teachers recruited in 2023 after Assembly outburst

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has bowed to mounting pressure from the Martins Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly over the deteriorating state of public schools across the state.

The Assembly had, during plenary two weeks ago, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the condition of primary and secondary schools, accusing the executive of failing to respond adequately to the crisis.

Governor Fubara had on Monday pushed back against the lawmakers’ criticism, insisting that the decay in the education sector did not begin under his administration.

But in a swift turn on Tuesday, he ordered the immediate recall of 1,000 teachers employed by the state government in 2023.

The directive was contained in a public notice issued by Sam Ogeh, Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board. According to the announcement, the governor has approved a fresh push to strengthen the teaching workforce and address manpower shortages in public schools.

“In fulfillment of his promise to bridge the manpower gap in public schools across Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, has approved the appointment of new teachers across the state,” the statement read.

“As part of this initiative, His Excellency has directed the revalidation of the 1,000 teachers recruited in 2023.”

The board directed all affected teachers to report to RSUBEB for the revalidation exercise and to come along with their appointment and posting letters.

The governor’s decision, coming barely 24 hours after trading words with the Assembly, is being interpreted in political circles as a strategic response aimed at de-escalating tensions while maintaining control over the state’s education reforms.

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