Despite repeated denials by the Edo State Government, a circular has surfaced instructing secondary school teachers to clear grasses and tidy up their school premises ahead of the 2025/2026 academic session.
The circular, dated the 27th of August, 2025, was signed by Obarisiagbon M. I. on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), Dr. Maureen Ekhorangbon. It was directed to all Executive Principals of senior secondary schools in the state.
The letter stated: “In furtherance of the commitment of His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State Senator Monday Okpeholo Shine Transformation Agenda, we follow suit by clearing the schools in preparation for resumption.
“All Executive Principals are directed to take off the grasses and clean up their schools ahead of resumption.
“This exercise is to keep our environment clean, hygienic, safe, and to inculcate discipline and voluntary service into our students.
“Teachers: Monday, 1st September 2025 and Students: Monday, 8th September 2025.
“Principals are required to supervise the exercise personally and ensure standards are met. And a brief report with photographic evidence of their clearing exercise must be sent to our integrity Whatsapp page by Friday, 5th September 2025 for monitoring purposes.
“This exercise is mandatory and forms part of our collective responsibility in sustaining the Governor’s education reform agenda.
Together, let us make our schools safe, clean, and ready for teaching and learning.
“SSEB takes the lead and Executive Principals follow.”
The release of this document appears to reinforce earlier concerns expressed by civil society organisations that teachers were being compelled to take on grass-cutting and school maintenance duties.
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Just days earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, had dismissed such allegations, describing them as “unfounded.” He insisted that any involvement of teachers in cutting grass was voluntary and part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Civil society groups, including Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) and the Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights, had openly criticised the state government. EDOCSO, in a statement signed by its Assistant Secretary General, Leftist Aliyu O. Umweni, demanded the circular be withdrawn immediately and that the government tender a public apology to teachers in the state.
The group stressed that “a nation that doesn’t treat its teachers best will always stay worse and retarded.” It further called on the Ministry of Education to work with appropriate agencies responsible for school maintenance instead of imposing such tasks on teachers.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo State chapter, has also opposed the directive. Its chairman, Comrade Bernard Gbenga Ajabuwe, said the union had formally written to the government, urging its members to disregard the order.
“We have written to the government that our members should disregard the directive because we are not meant to cut grass, and that we are professionals. Our duty is mainly to impact knowledge to pupils and students.
“We confronted the Board on the circular. They have debunked the message as that was not their intention. They have apologized for the message,” Ajabuwe stated.