Reprieve as Ajimobi pardons 1,000 Oyo sacked teachers

The over 1,000 secondary school teachers, who were relieved of their jobs some months ago due to age falsification in the state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), could not hide their feelings as they burst into frenzy on hearing of their pardon by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

The affected teachers who were sacked as a result of age falsification, could not hide their happiness as they were full of praises to the governor for tempering justice with mercy.

The governor, while addressing the teachers at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, said that his administration decided to review their cases after persistent interventions by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and stakeholders in the education sector.

He said that a committee had already been put in place which is reviewing the cases of the affected teachers, stressing that those with falsified ages would have their ages regularized and be finally reinstated, while those already due for retirement would be allowed to retire and be paid their entitlements.

Governor Ajimobi described teaching as a noble profession, saying that his administration would continue to place great emphasis on integrity in the state civil service, especially among teachers who were responsible for the training of future leaders.

The governor said that even though his administration has a zero tolerance for fraud and corruption, there was the need to thoroughly review the cases so as to ensure that the legal maxim which says that it was better to set 99 guilty free than to allow a single righteous to suffer injustice was fulfilled.

“I want to assure you that before the end of the month, we would have concluded the review of all the cases and we would forgive and pardon many of you,' the governor said.

Some of the affected teachers, on their part, publicly admitted that they falsified their ages and pleaded for pardon and eventual reinstatement, pledging that they would never be involved in such fraudulent act again throughout their remaining years in service.

The governor promised a thorough review of such cases.