The Kano State Government has dismissed allegations that persons with disabilities were excluded from the ongoing teachers’ recruitment exercise, describing the claims as false, misleading, and unfounded.
The denial was contained in a rejoinder issued on Monday by the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), following a statement released on January 3, 2026, by the Kano State Initiative for Persons with Special Needs.
In the rejoinder signed by the Director of Corporate Communications, Balarabe Danlami Jazuli, the board reaffirmed that the inclusion of qualified persons with disabilities remains a core policy and long-standing practice of SUBEB.
“SUBEB has never excluded persons with disabilities from any recruitment exercise. The inclusion of qualified persons with special needs is a standing policy of the board,” Jazuli stated.
He explained that over the years, SUBEB had consistently recruited qualified persons with disabilities and deployed them appropriately, including to special education schools across the state.
READ ALSO: Kano Govt Tasked To Address Rural-Urban Gap In Teacher Deployment
While acknowledging that teacher strength in some special needs schools currently exceeds pupil enrolment, Jazuli stressed that such situations had never been used as a basis to deny employment to any qualified applicant with a disability.
On claims of inaccessibility during the recruitment process, the SUBEB spokesperson said reasonable accommodations were provided during the most recent recruitment examinations to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all candidates.
He noted that visually impaired candidates were allowed to sit for the examination with assistants, a move he said clearly contradicted allegations of discrimination or informal screening.
Jazuli further acknowledged the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, and the Kano State Persons with Disabilities Law, but clarified that the implementation of employment quotas was guided by available vacancies, job relevance, and operational realities.
According to him, the laws do not mandate automatic recruitment irrespective of workforce balance, role suitability, or existing staffing levels.
He also explained that recruitment across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) is decentralised, noting that SUBEB could only recruit within its statutory mandate, while other MDAs were responsible for their respective recruitment processes.
READ ALSO: Out-Of-School: Kano Communities Cry Out Over Classroom, Teachers Shortage
While reaffirming that the rights of persons with disabilities are protected by law, Jazuli stressed that such rights must be exercised alongside responsibility and professionalism. He warned that absenteeism and prolonged non-official engagements could negatively affect service delivery.
He urged persons with special needs to pursue their legitimate interests through unity and constructive engagement, noting that internal division weakens advocacy efforts.
Prospective applicants were advised to submit their details through their respective Local Government Education Authorities or appropriate local government structures, in line with established guidelines.
“The board can only entertain recruitment requests that follow proper channels,” Jazuli said.
He reaffirmed that no qualified person with a disability had been deliberately excluded from the ongoing recruitment exercise, adding that accessibility measures were provided and legal provisions respected.
“Inclusive employment is not a favour but a legal obligation, and Kano State remains committed to upholding this principle,” he added.
Punch