Kwara teacher demoted, transferred over alleged assault on corps member
Khalid ABRAHAM
Advertisement
The Kwara state government has demoted a school teacher accused of assaulting a youth corps member posted to Government Day Junior Secondary School, Kulende, Ilorin.
Hajia Fatimoh Hamzat Nike was demoted by two grade levels, according to a joint statement in Ilorin by the Commissioner of Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, and the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, Mallam Bello Tauheed Abubakar.
The government said, “The investigative panel set up on the matter found Hajia Hamzat Fatimoh Nike guilty of fighting on duty, use of foul language, insubordination, and disrespect for the national identity which the uniform of the corps member represents.
Advertisement
“Her behavior contravenes public service rules, and she has therefore been demoted by two grade levels.”
The teacher is also to be transferred out of her current school and undergo counseling sessions, the statement added.
The state government declared that such abuse will not be tolerated under any guise.
Advertisement
“The government deeply regrets the action of the teacher and reassures the management of the National Youth Service Corps that the development does not represent the people of the state, and it will not happen again,” the statement said.
It urged teachers in the state to remain law-abiding at all times by performing their duties in accordance with the laid-down procedure, as the state government will continue to prioritize training on teaching ethics and procedures of service.
However, earlier the embattled teacher denied the accusation.
Advertisement
According to her: “While the corper was passing by, I queried her on why she could not greet people. She responded by saying that she greeted but people did not hear her and she walked away.
“Coming back, I called her, but she did not respond. I then asked what was wrong with her, saying, ‘I spoke to you, but you did not respond’.
“Responding, she said, ‘Don’t abuse me, if you abuse me, I will abuse you.’ And I didn’t abuse her.
“She claimed I called her a bastard. I refuted it. I told her I didn’t call her bastard. She pushed me and I fell to the ground. If I knew the gravity of the offence, I would have recorded the video of the incident on Thursday.”
Advertisement
Meanwhile, the Head of Information and Public Relations of NYSC in Kwara State, Morakinyo Oladipo, while condemning the action of the teacher said the corp.member would be redeployed out of the school.
