Enugu demotes, redeploys 31 principals over alleged fraud

About thirty one principals in various public secondary schools in Enugu State, have so far been demoted and redeployed for allegedly
collecting illegal fees, while some were suspended for six months without pay for engaging in examination fraud.

The state Commissioner for Education, Prof Uchenna Eze, who disclosed this in his office when members of the state command of the Anti-Corruption Awareness Organisation of Nigeria (ACAON) visited him, stated that the affected principals were “caught red-handed with large wads of cash,” alleged to have been collected from their students to aid examination malpractices during the just concluded West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations.

Uche, who described as “horrible,” what he witnessed at most examination centres visited during the WAEC examination, said such cannot, and should never be condoned in any decent society.

He stressed that no efforts would be spared towards cleansing the school system, and restoring public confidence in public schools in the state.

The commissioner also informed that 365 evaders of retirement, who either falsified their age, or length of service were discovered and instantly retired, while 212 ghost workers were discovered and their salaries stopped.

Eze blamed stakeholders for the weak foundation of education in the state, which has resulted in the current poor performance by students, saying they had discouraged hard work through the promotion of malpractices among the students.

He pointed out that the greatest challenge that the society faces was attitudinal change, and pledged to partner fully with ACAON to bring in positive enlightenment that would eliminate corruption in the sector
in the state.

ACAON state leader, Mr. Bassey Okon, alerted that the actions of proprietors of illegal examination centres also called “miracle centres” was seriously undermining excellence in the industry.He therefore called on the commissioner to immediately move to stop the trend.