Gov. Ishaku Splashes N20M On Failed Plot To Install Taraba NUT EXCO

Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku splashes over N20 Million in a failed effort to install leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers NUT in Taraba State, Taraba Truth and Facts exclusively reports.

This newspaper gathered that governor had given an express instruction to  Executive Chairman of the Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board (TSUBEB) Dr. Yakubu Agbaizo to ensure his candidates were elected into the leadership of the Teachers Union at the state level.

Taraba Truth and Facts learnt that the Governor was told that some politicians opposing him in the state were planning to install the leadership of the NUT in order to embarrass him.

"The governor was made to believed that a new NUT leadership not made up of his loyalists  would put him under intense pressure to fulfill all the statutory obligations to teachers in the state and might proceed on strike at the slightest excuse, the Governor released a lot of money to Dr. Yakubu Agbaizo to ensure only government endorsed candidates win the NUT election in Donga," Taraba Truth and Facts was told.  

Dr. Yakubu Agbaizo had stormed the venue of the NUT election in Donga alongside the state PDP Youth Leader Ado Zaki to enforce the directive but was resisted by teachers who openly rejected government interference at the election.

Mr Asoushi Bulus who's backed by government and three other candidates were defeated by Mr Nathan Solomon with a very wide margin to emerge the new  NUT state chairman.

The election, it was learnt, was adjudged by members of the union to be free and fair.

However, three days after the election, the defeated government backed candidates alongside Dr. Yakubu Agbaizo formed another association named Association of Basic Education Teachers, and Mr Bulus was made the chairman.

The association has the backing of the Taraba State Government who immediately after the formation of the splinter group donated a brand new HiLux van and 18-seater bus to them.

It was also gathered that the newly elected executive members of the NUT were prevented from using their secretariats located along Donga road Jalingo on November 26 by the police.

The police also prevented the new exco from using the NUT House and chased them from the premises when they went there for the handing over ceremony.

The newly elected chairman of the NUT in the state, Mr Solomon said a parallel faction believed to be encouraged by the state government under the leadership of Arch Ishaku Darius is not in the best interest of the state and the union.

He alleged that the state government encouraged the breakaway in the union by supporting those that lost the election to form a parallel body.

Solomon narrated that the election which was held in Donga on 23rd and 24th November went peaceful and winners emerged under harmonious conditions by all members.

 "The election held in Donga was free and fair and supervised by representative of National president of the union, representative of the Nigeria Labour Congress and state government were also present."

The chairman stated further that the new exco of the union have the support of all members in the 16 local government areas and as well gave them their mandate.

He also expressed dismay over the involvement of the police whom he accused of allowing themselves to be used by the state government in issue bordering on labour dispute.

He wondered how his opponent who lost in the NUT election, Comrade Asoushi Bulus is now the new Chairman of the parallel body. According to him the act supported by the state government is capable of destroying the integrity of the Governor who supposed to be a role model leader to the people of Taraba state.

The Chairman of the factional group, Comrade Asoushi Bulus, who described NUT as a union of "unscrupulous elements that were out to discredit Governor Darius Ishaku and his administration" reiterated the determination and readiness of the new association to be loyal to the government.

The new group under his leadership, he vowed "will never be a party to incite the Teachers and teaming population against the state government."

Aligning its weight to that of the new association, the state government through the State Universal Basic Education Board (TSUBEB), expressed sadness over the alleged inability of the NUT "to reciprocate the gestures of the Board and that of the government " adding that "but went ahead to disrespect the board and teachers from the state. "

The board who spoke through its chairman, Yakubu Agbaizo, while inaugurating the leadership of the new association, charged the new leadership of the association whom he said the government would work with to go ahead and mobilize the teachers in doing the right thing.