Imolites For Good Governance IFGG, a human rights advocacy group has called for the immediate re-instatement of 4 Secondary School Principals who were recently demoted to classroom teachers by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Johncliff Nwadike.
The group’s Director of Legal/programs,Comrade Julius Maduka noted with dismay that the Principals have put in many years in service and should not be disgraced in such manner, without following due process.
They insisted that the process leading to their demotion depicts injustice, as they were not given fair hearing, hence they should be re-instated.
According to them, “the Principals namely, Mrs Ngozi Okereke of Orji Comprehensive Secondary School, Mr. Uzoigwe Chukwuemeka of Okwe Secondary School Onuimo, Ikeduru, Mrs. Augustina Obi of Inyishi Community Secondary School and Mrs Billy Nwoko Queen of Ikenegbu Girls Secondary School, Senior Section may not be completely innocent of the allegations leveled against them but our concern is that the Commissioner unilaterally demoted them without following due process, which includes issuing them query and setting up a panel to investigate the allegations against them. Our investigation reveals that all these lawful processes were not followed. On this note, the Commissioner, in our opinion erred, by being unduly hasty and highhanded in his decision”.
They wondered how the Commissioner, a Professor of History at the Imo State University, Owerri, would feel, if after putting many years in the service of the university and attaining the level of a Professor, then, all of sudden, the Vice Chancellor demotes him to the level of a junior lecturer without giving him fair hearing or following due process.
“We therefore, urge the Commissioner to let good reason prevail by re-instating the for principals to their former positions, without further delay”.
