The Ondo State Government has suspended three senior officials of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for their alleged roles in a job scam linked to the state’s recent teachers’ recruitment exercise.
Those affected include two directors and a deputy director, who were placed on suspension following Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s directive. The governor described the development as “regrettable and unacceptable,” vowing that his administration would not tolerate corruption in the employment process.
The state recently recruited over 2,000 teachers across its 18 local government areas, with successful candidates resuming after biometric verification. However, the exercise was marred last week when some individuals staged a protest in Akure, claiming they had been sidelined despite receiving appointment letters.
Investigations later revealed that the letters were forged. According to officials, some SUBEB insiders allegedly connived with external fraudsters to defraud desperate job seekers by issuing fake employment and posting letters in exchange for money.
“The protesters were not employed teachers but applicants defrauded by scammers who gave them fake letters after collecting money,” said Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
He added that disciplinary action had already been taken against the three implicated SUBEB officials, while a committee has been set up to probe the case further. Victims of the fraud are also to be invited for a meeting with SUBEB.
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Some of the victims, who spoke to journalists, said they sold personal belongings and borrowed money to secure the fraudulent offers, describing the experience as “heartbreaking.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa assured the public that those found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
“The integrity of our recruitment processes must be protected at all times. No act of sabotage will be allowed to stand,” he said.
Security agencies are now working with the investigation committee to track down the external fraudsters involved in the scam.