Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Bornet .k
A political controversy has emerged in Taraba State following allegations that civil servants and teachers were directed to submit photocopies of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before receiving their salaries, a claim that has triggered condemnation from opposition figures and a denial from the state education authorities.
The controversy began after reports circulated on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, alleging that the Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board (TSUBEB), through its Chairperson Mrs Christiana Binga, instructed teachers to provide copies of their PVCs as a condition for salary payment. The allegation quickly generated public debate, with opposition groups accusing the government of attempting to interfere with workers' electoral rights.
The camp of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, a prominent political figure in the state, described the alleged directive as unconstitutional and an attempt to pressure public servants ahead of future elections. In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, J.Y. Nafinji, the senator's camp argued that workers should not be placed in a situation where they must choose between protecting their personal voter information and receiving their lawful earnings.
The opposition group called on relevant institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the Federal Government, to investigate what it described as possible voter intimidation and abuse of public office. It maintained that democratic elections should be based on the free choice of citizens rather than pressure or perceived coercion.
The statement also urged public servants and other workers in the state to remain cautious and protect the integrity of the electoral process. It argued that governments should rely on their performance and public confidence rather than actions that could create fear or suspicion among citizens.
However, TSUBEB strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as false, misleading and a deliberate distortion of remarks made by its chairperson. In a statement issued by the board's management, TSUBEB said Mrs Binga never instructed teachers to submit photocopies of their PVCs either for salary payments or for any official administrative purpose.
According to the board, the chairperson's comments were only aimed at encouraging teachers and education personnel who were eligible to vote to obtain their PVCs and participate in the democratic process. TSUBEB said the advice was part of efforts to promote civic responsibility and encourage citizens to exercise their constitutional voting rights.
The board further stated that Mrs Binga had specifically instructed Education Secretaries not to request or collect teachers' PVCs, but only to encourage eligible staff members to register and obtain their voter cards. It accused critics of deliberately misinterpreting the remarks in order to create unnecessary tension among teachers and members of the public.
Some teachers and civil servants contacted by reporters said they were not aware of any official directive requiring them to submit PVC copies before receiving salaries. They said no such instruction had been communicated to them by their immediate supervisors or education authorities.
The dispute has increased political tension in Taraba State as political activities continue ahead of future electoral contests. While Senator Bwacha's camp insists that the allegations require an independent investigation, TSUBEB maintains that no directive linking salary payments to PVC submission was ever issued.
Attention is now expected to turn to relevant authorities, including electoral and security agencies, to determine whether any evidence exists to support the claims or whether the controversy resulted from a misunderstanding of the education board's message.
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