Katsina Govt Clears Air on Clergy Stipends, CRS Teachers Recruitment
TEC News!
The Katsina State Government has dismissed reports suggesting it has approved monthly stipends for Christian clerics and commenced mass recruitment of Christian Religious Studies (CRS) teachers into public schools.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr. Bala Salisu Zango, the government described the reports as:
“misrepresentation of reality and fake news,”
stressing that no official directive or policy has been issued to that effect.
Earlier this week, sections of the media, quoting the Katsina chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), claimed Governor Dikko Umaru Radda had approved stipends for pastors and directed the recruitment of CRS teachers. The announcement generated excitement among many Christians in the state and sparked expectations of imminent financial aid and job openings.
While the government has explicitly denied the stipend claims, it has remained silent on the recruitment of CRS teachers. Education sector observers note that CRS was included among subjects advertised in recent teacher recruitment drives for model schools. This has fueled hopes that opportunities may exist for qualified CRS graduates through official teacher recruitment channels, such as the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
Katsina has in the past embarked on large-scale teacher recruitment, absorbing more than 7,000 educators—including S-Power and volunteer teachers—into the civil service. The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education also recently announced recruitment for model secondary schools, covering subjects like sciences, languages, and religious studies.
The government, however, urged the public to disregard unverified claims and rely only on official announcements from the Governor’s Office, the Ministry of Education, and TESCOM.
For now, while there is no confirmation of stipends for Pastors, those interested in CRS teaching roles are advised to follow government recruitment portals closely and await verified information.
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