Kwara State chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria on Tuesday dismissed as outright falsehood and dishonourable Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed's claim that the state has 25,000 teachers in its employ.

The party also said Ahmed's claim that his administration has employed additional 1,410 teachers in the last one year is a "needless lie."

Kayode Olawepo, Kwara ACN chairman, said in a statement in Ilorin that the governor and his men should refrain from making claims capable of exposing Kwarans to national disgrace.

The statement read: "It has become imperative to again react to the lies of Kwara State Government officials, including Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed himself, who seize every opportunity to grab public attention while doing nothing meaningful for public good. Yesterday, September 17, the Herald quoted the Governor as saying that Kwara has 25,000 teachers in its employ across the state primary school! He was also quoted as saying that Kwara State Government employed 1,410 teachers in the last one year.

"The claim of 25,000 teachers is totally inconceivable except the government can present evidence to back it up. Is the government saying the state has up to 500 primary schools, each having an average of 50 teachers? It is a needless lie and gives fillip to allegations that government might actually be the brain behind so-called ghost workers' syndrome.

"Also, when did the government employ the 1,410 teachers? Were these vacancies advertised at all? When and through which media? As is the practice for such exercise, when did the applicants for the teaching appointment write test or attend interview that qualified them for the job?

"These claims are not only false and laughable. This penchant for outright falsehood is disrespectful to the people of Kwara State who this government continues to expose national ridicule. That the governor and his men resort to falsehood and deceit is a clear indication that they cannot be trusted.

"We implore the PDP government to be guided by honour and collective integrity of the people of Kwara State when making public statements."