Headmistress demoted for embarrassing Gov's wife over salary

Punch reports that Ezichi who was the headmistress of a primary school at Amaetiti Asaga, Ohafia Local Government Area of the state, had disrespected the First Lady by complaining about the unpaid salaries of primary school teachers which have run into several months.

ALSO READ: "Money Matter: Benue First Lady begs Tor Tiv to reduce bride price"

The affront did not only embarrass Mrs. Ikpeazu but got her so angry that she made sure Ezichi was demoted and transferred to a school in Ukwa-East Local Government Area, about 140 kilometers from her former school, to serve as a deterrent for her 'impunity and lack of respect for constituted authority.'

The headmistress, it was gathered, had, during an interactive session with Ikpeazu’s wife after the inauguration of her free meal program for primary school pupils in her school, complained that teachers were being owed several months of salary arrears and allowances and that the First Lady should help inform the governor of their plights.

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu

Photo Credit: Guardian

Ezichi was quoted as telling the governor’s wife that teachers had been finding it difficult to meet their financial obligations like payment of house rents, school fees for their wards, medical bills, transport fares and had pleaded with her to intercede on their behalf.

Two days after the affront, reports say the headmistress was shown the way out after she was whisked away to Umuahia from the school where she was handed a letter of deployment and instructed to proceed to the new station immediately as a classroom teacher.

However, a Personal Assistant on Media to Governor Ikpeazu, Uche Olehi has debunked the claims that Ezichi was demoted because she insulted the Governor's wife.

In a telephone chat with Pulse, Olehi said there is no truth whatsoever in the news making the rounds as the woman was said to be running a beer parlour at the premises of the school and was found out when the First Lady visited the school.

"There is no truth in the news making the rounds that the headmistress was demoted for complaining about unpaid salaries.

It was discovered that she was running a beer parlour on the premises of the school and this is very unethical.

ALSO READ: "Okezie Ikpeazu: Abia Governor pardons 20 prisoners"

Coupled with that, the thereby causing flooding whenever it rained. Many parents and other residents had complained about the infraction and after the First Lady and her team went to the school and saw the beer parlour in the school, the state task force moved in to demolish the shack.

I cannot say if the headmistress was demoted or transferred but I can tell you that the First Lady had nothing to do with it," Olehi said.