Abia Headmistress Reportedly Demoted for Complaining about Non-Payment of Salaries to Governor Ikpeazu’s Wife

Maryleen Ezichi has been reportedly demoted from her position as Headmistress of a primary school at Amaetiti Asaga Ohafia in the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State for complaining about non-payment of teachers’ salaries to Nkechi Ikpeazu, the wife of the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

Ezechi, according to PUNCH, made the complaint to Nkechi Ikpeazu, after she inaugurated her free meal programme for primary school pupils in her school. She was quoted as saying that “teachers were being owed several months of salary arrears and allowances”.

PUNCH reports that Ezichi was demoted to a classroom teacher and transferred to a school in Ukwa-East Local Government Area of the state.

Her alleged transfer to the new school which is about 140 kilometers from the school where she was headmistress was to serve as a deterrent for her “impunity and lack of respect for constituted authority”.

The headmistress had reportedly pleaded with the governor’s wife to intercede on behalf of teachers who are finding it difficult to take care of their families due to non payment of salaries.

It was learnt that she was taken to Umuahia, the state capital, two days after the incident and handed a letter of deployment.

 

When contacted, the state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Chizobam Akparanta said the union is not aware of the incident.

Enyinnaya Apollos, Governor Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary said the state’s Commissioner of Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji disclosed that such incident never occurred in the state, adding that the state government will look into the situation.