The Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board has stopped the salaries of 239 teachers who were found to have abandoned their duties in various parts of the state.
The action was taken after the board discovered that some of the affected teachers had been absent from school for periods ranging from two months to as long as three years while still receiving monthly salaries.
The board uncovered the issue during routine monitoring and investigations.
The Chairman of the board, Professor Haruna Musa, revealed this on Saturday in Dutse shortly after the conclusion of a five-day training for 250 Arabic teachers at Takur Primary School.
He explained that one of the cases involved a teacher who left the classroom for three years and was receiving additional payment after being made a village head, without formally resigning from teaching.
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Professor Musa said the teacher in question has now been ordered to refund the salaries he earned during the period of absence.
The board has also taken steps to ensure that other teachers with similar cases are held accountable.
The chairman appealed to members of School-Based Management Committees in all 27 local government areas to report any teacher who fails to show up for work.
He warned that such behaviour affects the learning process and will no longer be tolerated.
Professor Musa further criticised the attitude of teachers who treat their job as a formality, saying the board is determined to improve discipline and ensure that teachers carry out their responsibilities properly.
He also mentioned that plans are in place to employ more teachers to tackle shortages across the state.
