Kwara demotes public school teacher for assaulting corps member

The Kwara state government has demoted a secondary school teacher accused of assaulting a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member.

Earlier in the week, photos had surfaced on social media showing a female corps member in a torn and visibly ruffled-up NYSC uniform.

The corps member was said to have visited a public school that was her “place of primary assignment” (PPA) to collect a clearance letter.

But she was reportedly assaulted and stripped by some teachers for allegedly failing to greet them properly.

The incident, reported to have occurred on November 28, involved the Government Day Junior Secondary School in Kulende, Ilorin.

The teacher primarily involved in the incident was identified as Hamzat Fatimoh Nike.

Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, the state’s commissioner for education, has since waded into the matter and condemned the assault.

She stated that the accused teacher had been summoned and that disciplinary action would be taken after a probe.

He said Nike was found to have committed misconduct including fighting while on duty, use of foul language, insubordination, and disrespect for the NYSC uniform which symbolises national identity.

A joint statement issued by the commissioner and Bello Tauheed Abubakar, the executive chairman of the Kwara TESCOM, confirmed her sanction.

The statement revealed that Nike’s punishment includes demotion by two grade levels, transfer to another school, and mandatory counselling sessions.

“The state government will not tolerate such abuse under any guise. The government deeply regrets the action of the teacher and reassures the management of the NYSC that this development does not reflect the values of the state,” the statement reads in part.

Onile said state authorities have urged teachers to adhere to ethical standards and pledged to continue training on teaching ethics and public service procedures to ensure professionalism in the education sector.

It is understood, as of the filing of this report, that the NYSC has withdrawn all corps members serving at Government Day Secondary School in Kulende, Ilorin.