Eight applicants fail drug test, lose Kwara TESCOM jobs
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
Eight out of the 1,800 candidates shortlisted for teaching positions under the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) have been disqualified after testing positive for banned substances.
The announcement was made in a statement released by TESCOM on Monday.
According to the commission’s chairman, Bello Taoheed Abubakar, the affected individuals tested positive for hard drugs including benzodiazepine, tramadol, cotinine, marijuana, and amphetamine.
The drug screening was conducted in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and with the full backing of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
“As a result of this development, the disqualified candidates will be replaced by the next best-performing applicants from their respective local government areas,” the statement said.
Abubakar emphasized that the state government has zero tolerance for drug abuse, especially among those who will work closely with schoolchildren.
“We have a duty of care not to expose little children to drug abuse under any circumstance,” he said.
He praised Governor AbdulRazaq for insisting on a transparent and merit-based recruitment process, which he described as critical to maintaining educational standards in the state.
