By BUSHRAH YUSUF-BADMUS

The Kwara Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) says eight out of the 1,800 persons shortlisted for teaching jobs have tested positive for outlawed drugs.

A statement from TESCOM Press Secretary, Sam Onile, on Monday in Ilorin, said they have automatically lost their slots to the next best candidates in the highly competitive exercise.

According to Onile, the TESCOM Chairman, Bello Taoheed, said the candidates tested for hard drugs such as benzodiazepine, tramadol, cotinine, marijuana and amphetamine – all of which were considered unsafe for human health.

He said the drug test was conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with the full support of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“A major implication of this development is that the affected individuals will be replaced by the candidates who are next to them in performance from their respective local government areas.

“The idea is to send an unmistakable message about the state government’s zero tolerance for drug abuse.

”We have a duty of care not to expose little children to drug abuse under any circumstance.

“Again, Gov. AbdulRazaq has etched his name in gold for insisting that recruitment into the teaching profession should be strictly meritorious and devoid of any practices that may jeopardise quality learning in our schools.

“He has also proven that he is a man who is sold to giving every Kwaran a fair chance,” the chairman said. (NAN)