Abia denies transfer of head teacher over payment of salaries

Abia State has denied transferring the headmistress of a primary school from Ohafia to Ukwa, which is over 100 kilometres apart as punishment for demanding payment of teachers’ salaries.

The headmistress, Mrs. Maryellen Ezichi, was alleged to have been transferred for daring to plead with the wife of the governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu to appeal to her husband to pay the teachers’ salaries.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ikechi Mgbeoji denied the allegation, saying nothing like that happened.Ezichi was rumoured to have been moved from Amaetiti Primary School Asaga-Ohafia to another school in Ukwa East Local Council area, which is more than 100 kilometres away from Ohafia.

The incident was said to have happened when the governor’s wife penultimate week visited the said Amaetiti Primary School to launch the state free meal programme after which the demoted headmistress reportedly made her plea at an interactive session.

According to the report, Ezichi’s plea which was considered very embarrassing, infuriated the government into demoting and transferring her just to serve as a deterrent to public servants in the state that may in future ask government officials embarrassing questions in public.

But the Commissioner has described the report as embarrassing saying, “there is no truth in the report.”Mgbeoji said: “The state Universal Basic Education Board who is in charge or responsible for primary school administration also said it was not aware of the demotion and transfer of the Headmistress.

“Government also cannot demote a civil servant without public service due process and the governor’s approval. The governor’s wife took no offense when the headmistress made the plea to her.”