Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the commissioner for education in Anambra State, has taken offence at a job-seeking teacher who allegedly asked for clarification regarding the recently finished teacher recruitment process in the region.
According to reports, the teacher called the commissioner on the phone to ask questions about the exercise, which was conducted on Saturday at three locations throughout the state.
However, Mrs. Chuma-Udeh, an English professor, yelled at the applicant and accused her of being disobedient to the recruitment process’ rules.
The recorded phone conversation has gone viral on social media.
“Madam, you’re an idiot. You mean the computers are doing what? I received a report by 12 noon that you people refused to stand in line. You refused to be identified, and you mobbed.
“You people were trying to get into the hall at the same time, you refused to be disciplined up till this moment, and you have the effrontery, you stupid woman, to call me on phone and talk rubbish?” Mrs Chuma-Udeh was heard yelling at the applicant.
She continued:-
“Get out of my phone you filthy thing. You really want to be a teacher? How will you tell your students to conform to instructions, when you cannot stand in line and move into the hall?
“Please, I have no pity for you and I have nothing to say to you. We have already examined up to 1, 400 candidates and…. You are all hooligans.”
The commissioner’s outburst was said to be a reaction to a reported stampede that occurred at Nnewi Examination Centre, one of the centres where the recruitment examination was held.
In the centre where the applicant reportedly sat the examination, the stampede began when some applicants surged to enter the hall before others.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Charles Soludo, has reacted to the controversy.
He said the job-seeking teacher resorted to raining curses and abuses on him and the commissioner after she failed the examination which prompted the response by the commissioner.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Christian Aburime, Monday night, the governor accused the applicant of editing the viral phone conversation out of frustration to blackmail the commissioner.
Mr Soludo stressed that his administration was committed to the conduct of a “seamless and transparent ongoing recruitment exercise” for teachers in the state.
He explained that the commissioner’s comments were as a result of the “uncouth language” and “other unprintable words hurled at the commissioner” by the applicant.
“As public officers operating in public space, the commissioner has apologised for her inappropriate choice of words in the said voice note,” Mr Soludo said.
The governor vowed not to be distracted in giving qualified teachers the opportunity to serve the state and contribute in shaping the future of school children.
