The chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Nureni Adeniran, says the board will give priority to the remaining applicants who scored 50 marks and above in the last recruitment exercise for the next one.

Speaking in Ibadan on Friday, Mr Adeniran noted that 8,197 applicants scored 50 marks and above in the last exams, of which 5,600 have since been posted to various primary schools across the state.

He assured the remaining qualified applicants that the board had their records intact and would consider them first when it receives approval for the next round of recruitment for Governor Seyi Makinde.

Mr Adeniran frowned at the attitude of some newly engaged teachers who had been avoiding work in rural areas or schools outside their domains, where their services are needed most.

He said this had caused the number of teachers to become lopsided in some schools.

“As teachers, we must see the pupils in rural schools and remote places as our own children. We must consider their future above pleasure and our comfort,” he said.

He added that the administration of Mr Makinde had done well for teachers through the prompt payment of salaries, car loans, a 13-month allowance, and other benefits.

The board chair said every teacher in the state enjoyed a pay rise of over 27  per cent compared with colleagues in the state civil service.

“The initiative aims to serve as motivation towards quality and efficient service delivery,” he said.

Mr Adeniran said the current administration had been faithful in releasing funds for the basic education sub‑sector to accommodate the growing number of children in the state’s primary schools.

He added that the government has also been paying its Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) counterpart fund to access intervention projects.

Speaking on the effect of the state and local governments’ joint account on SUBEB, Mr Adeniran said the system had made the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries faster and more regular, contrary to when it was handled by individual council administrations.

Mr Adeniran, while commending the landmark achievements of Mr Makinde in the education sector, particularly the timely payment of salaries before the end of the month, expressed his ambition to contest for the Oyo State governorship seat in the 2027 general elections.

(NAN)