Jos South Local Government has engaged 102 ad hoc teachers to fill spaces created by the constant retirement of old hands, its Chairman, Mr. Gideon Dandereng, said on Monday.

Dandereng, while addressing staff of the local government in Jos, said that the efforts had also reduced the rate of unemployment and impacted the quality of education in Plateau.

“Since I became chairman of this council, people retire from service on a daily basis.

“The public schools are under-staff; we want to ensure that children of nobody become somebody in the future,” he said.

Dandereng congratulated the new workers and charged them to be committed and hard-working.

He said that the teachers would be on probation for two years.

“Your level of commitment will determine whether you will be converted to permanent status,” he hinted.

Dandereng, who is vying for the Jos East/Jos South Federal Constituency seat on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), promised to empower more youths and women if elected.

“I am not an accidental politician; I am committed to changing my people’s narrative that is why I want your votes.

“If elected, I will appoint two Senior Special Assistants to oversee the issue of employment at the federal level.

“Their work will be to move from one ministry to another and from one parastatal to another just to make sure employment is given to you,” he said.

In his remarks, the area’s Education Secretary, Mr. John Monday, described the recruitment of the ad-hoc teachers as timely, “owing to a dearth of teachers in our public schools”.

“We want to thank you for this effort and we promise that we will not fail you and the local government.

“We shall ensure that these teachers are posted to schools that lack teachers,” he said.

Grace Utaji, one of the new teachers, thanked the chairman for the gesture and promised to perform her job diligently.