In a bid to improve the quality of teaching in public primary schools, the Nasarawa State Government said it will embark on the screening of teachers from across the state.

Governor of the state, Engineer Abdullahi Sule disclosed this while playing host to the Afo Nation led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on a courtesy call at the Government House on Tuesday.

Engineer Sule who used the opportunity of the visit to comment on the strides of his administration in the area of education, security and rural road construction, lamented that the greatest problem facing education in the state, is the lack of qualified and competent teachers, particularly  at the primary school level.

To this end, Engineer Sule said his administration will carry out screening of teachers, who will also be made to face a test for compatibility.

According to the Governor, even though the previous administration did its best in terms of constructing and renovating schools, with more contracts for the building and renovation of additional schools awarded just last week, it’s not the beautiful structures that will educate the children but qualified teachers.

“That’s the reason why we are carrying out screening and we are going to test the teachers, so that  teachers we are sending to these primary schools are teachers that have the capacity to teach our children,” he stated.

While noting that the exercise may lead to relocating some people, Engineer Sule appealed to the Afo leaders to sensitize their youths on the need to acquire proper training so that they can be able to effectively teach.

Commenting on security, the Governor disclosed efforts being put in place for the 177 Guards Brigade in Keffi to provide security in trouble areas of the states, if members of the Operation Whirl Stroke are eventually withdrawn, particularly in Mararaba Mbeki, Loko, Toto, Awe and border towns of Doma, Keana and Obi.

On the planned investment in 50, 000 hectares of land for commercial rice production by the Dangote Group, Engineer Sule assured the people of the benefiting communities that nobody is taking anybody’s land.

He urged them to shun unpatriotic elements who are ever ready to play politics with every given opportunity, stressing that with Dangote’s investment in the area, economic development and employment will come to the people.

On the issue of rural road construction, the Governor disclosed that terms have been agreed with contractors for the construction of the Mararaba Mbeki-Udege, with work on the project expected to commence early next month.

Earlier, in an opening remarks, first executive governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, said they were at the Government House to join the Governor in celebrating the season of goodwill marked by Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Senator Adamu also said the Afo Nation were at the Government House to rejoice with Engineer Sule who recently celebrated his 60th birthday anniversary.

The former governor equally used the opportunity of the visit to push for the siting of a higher institution of learning in the area where the Afo people are dominant, stressing that the area is left behind educationally.

Senator Adamu equally appealed for the construction of rural roads in the area.