By Michael Ofulue Osogbo

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The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHRs) in Osun State has given five days ultimatum to Governor Ademola Adeleke to immidiately issue letters of appointment to all recruited teachers in the state

The CDHRs decried the delay of giving appointment letter to the affected teachers after over 13 months they were employed .

The CDHRs a non governmental organisation, formed to defend, sustain, and promote fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights

In a statement by the CDHRs Chairman, Comrade Olowu Emmanuel said the ultimatum had become necessary because recruitment without appointment letters seem not to be a genuine one .

“We write to address the long-overdue allocation of appointment letters to qualified applicants who participated in the recent teachers recruitment exercise conducted by the Osun State Government under your administration.

“Your Excellency Sir, On February 16th, 2024, you approved the immediate recruitment of Five Thousand (5,000) teachers for both Primary and Secondary Schools and Two Hundred and Fifty (250) education officers in Osun State.

“The recruitment process involved the sale of application forms for the sum of Two Thousand Naira (₦2000.00k), which thirty-two thousand (32,000) applicants registered for. Twenty-nine thousand (29,000) applicants accessed the internet for the examination, while Twenty-Seven thousand (27,000) applicants wrote the examination properly.

“It should be noted that the application lasted for two weeks, specifically from February 16 to February 30, 2024, and Thirty-Two Thousand (32,000) applicants applied in just two weeks, which points to the unemployment rate in the state.

“The examination to examine the applicant was held on the 27 and 28 of March, 2024, and on April 17, 2024, the examination result was released and an interview for shortlisted candidates was conducted from Monday, September 9 to Friday, September 13, 2024

Olowu hinted that despite the aforementioned timeline, the process has been delayed for an extended period, stretching to approximately thirteen (13) months, with no clear communication regarding the allocation of appointment letters to the successful candidates.

“This delay has had a negative impact on the education system of Osun State, as the vacancies remain unfilled, resulting in increased workload for the already existing staff and contributing to negatively to the overall output of Osun education..

We appreciate your effort to have properly broken all odds to approve the full implementation of the Teachers Enlongation policy in Osun State, which the beneficiaries are presently supporting the existing teaching workforce in the state.

“Your Excellency sir, it is important to let you know that the continuous use of the beneficiaries of the Teachers Enlongation policy and abandoning the successful applicants in the recent teacher’s recruitment negate the promise you had with the People of Osun State and is unacceptable because the education sector is presently suffering while the potential and eagerness of the successful applicant to contribute to the educational advancement of the state has been jeopardized.

“We also will like to draw your attention to the use of Imole Youth Corps in lieu of the professionally trained teachers in our schools, they are mostly untrained and will cause more damage to the education of our children. This abberration should be stopped immediately sir

“The Osun State Government must take prompt action to alleviate the situation by immediately allocating appointment letters to all qualified applicants. This will ensure that the educational system receives the necessary support in terms of qualified teaching personnel, thereby preventing further disruptions and inefficiencies in the public schools across the state.

“We, therefore, urge you to immediately compel the Ministry of Education to release the appointment letters within the next five (5) days, swiftly to ensure that the education system of the state is not further compromised.

“We thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to your prompt response and positive action.”