Edo Commissioner Demotes School Principal Over Failure To Turn On Generator

BENIN - A principal at Imaguero Senior Secondary School, Benin has been demoted to a classroom teacher over an alleged personal disagreement with the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Ms Joan Oviawe.

The incident was said to have taken place on March 21 during a visit to the school by Oviawe.

According to a source, the commissioner reportedly descended on the principal as a result of his inability to ensure that the school’s generator set was in good working condition during the biometric registration exercise for the West African Examinations Senior Secondary School (WASSCE) candidates in the school’s hall.

In a swift reaction through a text message Oviawe however challenged the demoted principal to disclose details of what happened to the public.

It was gathered that the principal was demoted after a minor argument without any query in line with the Civil Service rules the principal who could not be reached for comments.

One of the teachers in the school who pleaded anonymity accused Oviawe of using intimidation tactics to keep the demoted principal in check and weaken solidarity against what he said is the unpopular decision of the commissioner.

The source also accused the commissioner of high-handedness, intimidation and fighting several unseen enemies in the ministry since she was appointed as Chairman of the State University Basic Education Board (SUBEB) before her elevation as the commissioner.

The commissioner retorted: “Why would I have a personal disagreement with a teacher? That is ludicrous. The teacher should please state what happened.”