Headmistress reportedly demoted for requesting payment of salary from First Lady

For requesting that Abia state first lady,

According to a report by Punch Newspaper, Maryleen Ezichi, a primary school headmistress at Amaetiti Asaga Ohafia, in Ohafia Local Government Area, Abia State, was reportedly demoted to a classroom teacher for allegedly embarrassing the wife of Abia State governor.

It was further reported that Ezichi has been transferred to the Ukwa-East Local Government Area — about 140 kilometers from her former school — to serve as a deterrent for her allegedly disrespecting the first lady during her visit.

The headmistress, it was learnt had, during an interactive session with Ikpeazu’s wife after the inauguration of her free meal programme for primary school pupils in her school, complained that ‘teachers were being owed several months of salary arrears and allowances’.

Ezichi was quoted to have told the governor’s wife that teachers had been finding it difficult to meet their financial obligations, thus pleaded with her to intercede on their behalf.

ALSO READ: Teachers begin indefinite strike over unpaid salaries

The report said two days after the incident, Ezechi was transferred away to Umuahia from the school, where she was allegedly handed a letter of deployment and instructed to proceed to the new station immediately.

In his reaction, the Chairman of the state’s NUT, Chizobam Akparanta, stated that he was not aware of the incident, adding that if the teacher complained about it to the union, the NUT would look into it.

In the same vein, the Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Education, Chris Ogbuehi, denied any knowledge of the matter.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Enyinnaya Appolos, said the information made available to him by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Ikechi Mgbeoji, had it that there was no such incident in the state.

In January, the Abia wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers embarked on an indefinite strike over their six-month salary arrears, non-payment of leave allowances and non-implementation of their promotions.