Florence Uwaeme
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said the future employment of teachers would be based on merit.
Wike said that the applicants would be mandated to write an examination to ascertain their level of intellect.
He also called on the leadership of labour in the state to always place the interest of Rivers State above other considerations in their engagements with the State Government.
Speaking on Wednesday during the commissioning of the Secretariat of the Rivers Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) in Port Harcourt, he said: “For me, Rivers first before any other thing. Before you go on strike or declare any dispute with the Rivers State Government, look through and check what the implications would be for Rivers State.
“We need teachers. But the employment of teachers will be based on examination. It will be based on merit. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and the Chairman of Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board have been directed to determine how many teachers are needed before a consultant is engaged to conduct the examination”.
The Governor stated that the principals involved in the collection of monies from students would be sanctioned, adding that Rivers State Government will not tolerate any principal or administrator who contravenes the directive on the abolition of all forms of fees in state-owned schools.