Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah on Tuesday ordered reporters out of the venue of the inauguration of committee on recruitment of 500,000 teachers.
Anwukah sent the journalists out after they asked for the names of the Chairman and Secretary of the newly inaugurated committee.
The committee was being set up as a process of fulfilling the federal government’s promise that it would recruit 500,000 teachers to address the shortage of teachers in the basic education level across the country.
The minister had inaugurated the committee in Abuja without giving the names of its chairman, secretary and members in addition to time frame.
However, he had told the journalists to leave so that the committee can continue in a closed door session.
The journalists had only asked the question before they were sent out.
“I have not requested for questions; I said the press should leave; please leave,” Anwukah said.
Journalists, who left the hall in protest, threatened to boycott further events in the ministry.
Consequently, two of the minister’s aides – Godswill Obioma and Tony Akuneme – appealed to the reporters, but they refused, and requested that the minister tenders the apology in person.
Earlier, Anwukah had said the terms of reference of the committee included: “To examine and recommend the methodology to adopt in the recruitment, training and deployment of such teachers.
“To determine the qualifications and skills critical to such teachers to be recruited
“To spell out the nature and duration of remedial and other refresher courses the selected trainee-teachers will need to go through.”
