“War” Breaks Out In Imo Ministry Of Education

– Commissioner, Ikegwuoha Accuses SEMB Executive Secretary Of Plotting To Take His Position

–  Principals In Fear Over Alleged Plan To Alter Their Files’ Contents

There are reports that the team spirit, synergy and harmonious working relationship that prevailed in the Imo State Ministry of Education before the emergence of Prof BOT Ikegwuoha as Commissioner in charge of the Ministry has become the direct opposite of what it is obtainable today as rancor, acrimony and unnecessary suspicion have become the order of the day.

Information available to our news desk indicates that the reason for the unpleasant twist of events is the Commissioner’s allegation that the Executive Secretary of Secondary Education Management Board SEMB Dame Tina Azubuike, who worked harmoniously with the former Commissioner, Prof JohnCliff Nwadike is doing everything possible to remove him and take over his position.

The Commissioner who stated this in a several voice notes he sent to the platform of school principals in the state alleged that the Executive Secretary connived with some people to set him up by attempting to induce him with the sum of #1.5 million. This, according to him, was a “set up” through which they wanted the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma to sack him. “But I rejected the money. One thing they don’t know is that I am a man of integrity who cannot be compromised”.

Ikegwuoha, also alleged that the SEMB Executive Secretary has reached out to some prominent persons in the state to help her facilitate his removal by the governor as the Commissioner for Education so that she can take over his position.

Meanwhile, a teacher in the State education system who spoke to this reporter on the condition of anonymity said, “ I am a concerned TEACHER, serving in Owerri municipal. I wish to bring to your notice the actions of the present commissioner for education ( Primary and Secondary) Prof BTO IKEGWUOHA,in the state towards the principals in the state. 

“The Hon commissioner has been intimidating the principals, he collected the files of all the Directors in SEMB and some principals  files too. The fear is that he may doctor those files to suit his selfish interest.

“Moreover, I wish to bring to your notice that the PA to the commissioner Mr EMEKA owns a private primary and secondary school which we believe that the PA is collaborating with the commissioner in the running of that school. 

“There is so much fear and intimidation in the system now brought about by the commissioner’s high handedness and intimidation. It is of good understanding that no system brings forth positive results in such an uncondusive atmosphere.

“Again we fear that if he is not properly checked now, he may extend his obnoxious actions to the teachers in the state and you and I know that it will not be to the best interest of progressive education in the state.

“Again we fear that if he is not properly checked now, he may extend his obnoxious actions to the teachers in the state and you and I know that it will not be to the best interest of progressive education in the state”.

Responding to the teacher’s statement, Commissioner Ikegwuoha, said, “as far as l am concerned, there is no need to balance the report. Any Editor worth his or her onion knows how to go to SEMB and interview some staff of that agency, to know who is telling the truth. I am in-charge of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and I am statutorily responsible to periodically review the files of the staff under my supervision, which includes but not limited to issuing queries to erring staff, identifying staff with multiple dates of birth, doctored and falsified documents, certificates, non compliance with the law, such as a staff being employed without NYSC exemption or discharge certificate, etc. It is my statutory responsibility to retire staff who have overstayed beyond their retirement dates, and also to ask for the refund of the overpaid salaries, etc. 

“Meanwhile, in the midst of the verbal fireworks, a lecturer in one of the tertiary institutions in the state whose wife is among the principals allegedly being victimized by the Commissioner was quoted as saying that, “Prof Ikegwuoha who is victimizing the SEMB Executive Secretary because she is aspiring to be the Commissioner for Education is being uncharitable. Assuming but not conceding that it is true, what is wrong in the woman aspiring to be a Commissioner. After all, Ikegwuoha, as a lecturer at the Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri aspired to become the Vice Chancellor of the institution. Did anyone fight, victimize or malign him for that? Why must he then victimize an innocent woman simply because of the assumption that she is aspiring to be the Commissioner for Education which is her right as a bonafide citizen?”

“Even at that, is she the person that will make herself a Commissioner? I have listened to many voice notes sent by Ikegwuoha to the platform of School Principals maligning and castigating the Executive Secretary of SEMB simply because she is reportedly aspiring to be a Commissioner, according to Ikegwuoha and nothing else. That is absolutely ridiculous.

As far as some of us are concerned, the issue at stake does not justify the  rancor and acrimony it has ignited. What most people expect the Commissioner to do, is to concentrate his efforts on how to improve the deplorable state of primary and secondary schools in the state instead of chasing shadow.

Regrettably, over 90% of primary and secondary schools in the state are in utterly dilapidated conditions. Investigation shows that in some schools, pupils and students sit on bare floors to learn in roofless and flooded classrooms. Surprisingly, rather than thinking of how to address this ugly situation, Commissioner Ikegwuoha is busy recording and sending frivolous voice notes about unimportant issues to school Principals’ platform. What a shame”.

Speaking in the same vein, an executive of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of one of the schools in Owerri Municipal Council, said, “in one of our recent  meetings, we discussed  the issue of how principals raise money to run their schools since 2018 that the government stopped giving them imprest for that. It is on record that  some of them hire and pay their security men, employ teachers for core subjects who the PTA pays, in addition to providing some basic needs which the students need like toilet roll, chalk, disinfectants, etc. What effort has Ikegwuoha made to address some of those issues since he came on board? He seems to be more interested in harassing and chasing school school principals up and down, most times, with false and unfounded allegations. There is need for the Governor to take a close look at the Commissioner’s activities to avoid unnecessary quagmire in the education sector”.