Ondo HOS Dismisses Allegations of Crisis in TESCOM, Says Commission Functioning Effectively

The Ondo State Head of Service (HOS) has described the Ondo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) as active and operating efficiently, dismissing recent claims of dysfunction.

In a statement signed by the Director of Information in the Office of the HOS, Sina Adeyeye, and made available to newsmen in Akure on Tuesday, the HOS addressed a publication credited to Comrade Olabode Akinwale, titled “Quagmire in TESCOM.”

“Ordinarily, it is not the practice of the Public Service to respond to unverified social media posts,” the statement read. “However, it has become necessary to set the record straight so that well-meaning readers are not misled.”

The HOS clarified that under the TESCOM Law, the designated position is that of Secretary, not expressly a Permanent Secretary, as the Commission’s Accounting Officer. Where a Permanent Secretary is posted to TESCOM for administrative reasons, they function in the capacity of Secretary.

The statement further explained that the role of Tutors-General, who oversee secondary school personnel at the senatorial district level, is distinct from that of the Secretary at TESCOM Headquarters. “Tutors-General report directly to the Chairman or Board, not to the Secretary. Even under the flawed logic of the author, it would be impractical for a Tutor-General to report to a Permanent Secretary of equivalent rank, should the Secretary happen to be a Permanent Secretary. That would amount to a Permanent Secretary reporting to another Permanent Secretary — a notion driven purely by mischief,” the statement said.

It also noted that Mrs. Bayo-Philip, the current Administrative Secretary of TESCOM, has previously served in similar capacities in other agencies. The Ministry of Education, which supervises TESCOM, is currently headed by an Administrative Secretary as its Accounting Officer.

The HOS pointed out that senior Directors have historically served as TESCOM Secretaries, citing past examples including Mr. Adelae, Rev. J.A. Ogunsusi, Elder Abiodun Alabi, Mrs. A.M. Akinsete, and Pastor (Mrs.) T.R. Adediran.

Under Mrs. Bayo-Philip’s leadership, TESCOM recently concluded a teacher recruitment exercise approved by the Governor, conducted without scandal. Appointments of school principals are now based strictly on seniority and competence, eliminating the previous “cash-and-carry” era of preferential postings.

“It would have been more constructive if the writer had raised any genuine case of inefficiency rather than resorting to a baseless, mischievous outburst on social media. Nonetheless, we understand the source of their frustration,” the statement concluded.