At least eight candidates shortlisted for teaching positions under the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) have been disqualified after testing positive for banned substances during a mandatory screening process.
The development was disclosed on Monday in a statement issued by TESCOM’s Press Secretary, Sam Onile, who cited the Commission’s Chairman, Bello Abubakar.
According to the statement, the affected applicants tested positive for a range of illicit and controlled substances, including benzodiazepine, tramadol, cotinine, marijuana, and amphetamine. The screening was conducted in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), with the full backing of the state government.
Abubakar noted that the disqualified candidates would be replaced by the next best-performing applicants from their local government areas, ensuring that merit remains a cornerstone of the ongoing recruitment exercise.
“The drug test was conducted by the NDLEA with the full support of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,” the statement read.
“A major implication of this development is that the affected individuals will be replaced by the candidates who are next to them in performance from their respective local government areas.”
The TESCOM chairman emphasized that the drug test initiative underscores the state government’s zero-tolerance stance on substance abuse, particularly in the education sector.
“We have a duty of care not to expose little children to drug abuse under any circumstances,” he said.
Abubakar also commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his insistence on a transparent and merit-based recruitment process, describing it as a reflection of the governor’s commitment to educational reform and public service integrity.
The Kwara State government had earlier announced plans to employ over 1,800 new teachers to fill vacancies in public secondary schools across the state as part of ongoing efforts to improve teaching standards and student performance.
