Abia governor reportedly demotes headmistress “for embarrassing my wife”
The head of a Nigerian primary school, according to reports, has been relegated for asking why teachers were being owed salaries.
Maryleen Ezichi was removed as headmistress of a school at Amaetiti Asaga Ohafia, in Ohafia local government area of Abia State.
She was reportedly demoted to the role of a teacher and transferred to Ukwa-East, some 140 kilometers from her former school.
Her demotion was set in motion when wife of Abia State governor, Nkechi Ikpeazu, visited the school to inaugurate a free feeding programme for pupils.
“Teachers are being owed several months of salary arrears and allowances,” the “former” headmistress was said to have told the governor’s wife during an interactive session.
Ezichi reportedly asked Mrs Ikpeazu the reason behind feeding pupils for free while those who will feed their minds were made to starve.
Two days after the incident the governor’s wife reportedly found embarrassing, Ezichi was whisked away to state capital Umuahia and handed a letter of deployment with orders to proceed to another school immediately.
State education ministry spokesperson Chris Ogbuehi denied knowledge of the matter. He then suspiciously added that he couldn’t speak on the matter without permission from his boss.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s press secretary Enyinnaya Appolos said no one was demoted.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) also said it had not heard of the matter.
Nigerian leaders, even when caught in the wrong, are known to lash out at critics.
Recall that in 2015, Ogun State Government fired at least six Ministry of Education officials over an “offensive” Senior School English language summary passage which formed part of questions set by an examiner.
The controversial summary passage read:
There is no arguing about the fact that the government is merely paying lip service to the development of the education. It is true that a lot of money is being spent on education sector but, with little or no impact felt by the people, except where we want to deceive ourselves.
Many school run by the government which were formally known for academic excellence have suddenly lost their prestige and are living on past glory. No wonder many parents and guardians are threateningly left with only one option, to withdraw their wards from these schools to other ones that are better managed.
