Igede Youth Council Condemns Discriminatory Cut-Off Marks in SUBEB Recruitment
The Igede Youth Council has strongly condemned the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) over its recent decision to adopt varying cut-off marks for Local Government Areas (LGAs) in its ongoing teacher recruitment exercise. The council described the policy as discriminatory, unfair, and a threat to the principles of meritocracy and equal opportunity.
In a press statement signed by Comrade Andyson Iji Egbodo, President of the Igede Youth Council, and Amb. Smith Akoko, Secretary, the group decried the higher cut-off marks set for candidates from Obi and Oju LGAs, which stand at 43 and 42 respectively, compared to significantly lower benchmarks for other LGAs. The council argued that this disparity appears to be a deliberate strategy to marginalize the Igede people and limit their access to employment opportunities.
According to the statement, this practice not only undermines the integrity of the recruitment process but also risks fostering division and distrust among ethnic groups in the state. “This approach does not merely reflect poor administrative judgment; it fundamentally jeopardizes the integrity of the entire recruitment process,” the council noted.
The Igede Youth Council also questioned the rationale behind these arbitrary cut-off marks, accusing certain “interlopers and middlemen” of orchestrating this injustice to benefit a select few at the expense of many. They called on SUBEB to provide a clear and transparent explanation for its decision and warned against using unfounded criteria in a process that should prioritize fairness and inclusivity.
Call for Intervention
The council urged the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and the Benue State House of Assembly to intervene decisively by canceling the ongoing recruitment exercise. They demanded the establishment of a fair and equitable process that reflects the true spirit of merit-based selection.
“The people of Benue State deserve a recruitment process that is fair, equitable, and inclusive. Every candidate, regardless of their LGA, should have a fair shot at employment based on their capabilities and merits,” the statement read.
The council emphasized that promoting fairness in the recruitment process is critical for fostering unity among the people of Benue State and ensuring better educational outcomes for its children.
This development comes amidst growing public concern about transparency and fairness in public sector recruitment processes, with stakeholders calling for reforms to ensure inclusivity and equity.
