Outrage Over Alleged Humiliation Of Teachers By Kwara SUBEB Boss
The alleged humiliation of teachers at the Government Day Secondary School, Amule, Ilorin, by Professor Raheem Adaramaja, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, has sparked outrage.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday during an inspection visit to the school.
It was reported that the SUBEB boss accused the teachers of maintaining an untidy environment and ordered them to sweep the compound, including the Vice Principal’s area.
Explanations by the teachers that students had just returned from their break when the chairman arrived were reportedly ignored.
The incident went viral across social media platforms and has been widely discussed among teachers in the state.
A teacher who spoke with Daily Trust in confidence on Wednesday, said many of her colleagues viewed the action as degrading and undignified.
She said it was troubling that the SUBEB boss, a former teacher, would reduce his colleagues to such a low level in the presence of their students.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also condemned the incident.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the party said it was deeply outraged that a professor could subject teachers to such humiliation.
It described the alleged incident as a public disgrace and a gross abuse of office.
The PDP called on the governor to sanction Adaramaja and urged the Nigeria Union of Teachers to rise in defence of its members to ensure the dignity of teachers was not trampled upon by government officials.
The NUT Chairman, Ilorin East Branch, Comrade Saka Saafi Adanla, in a statement, condemned the act and described it as totally unacceptable.
“The humiliation and disrespect meted out to our members by the SUBEB Chairman is unacceptable. Teachers are not janitors. We demand an immediate apology from Professor Adaramaja,” Adanla said.
However, a senior SUBEB staff member who spoke anonymously said the opposition party was twisting facts for political gain.
He said officials from the Universal Basic Education Commission in Abuja were on a monitoring visit alongside the SUBEB team when the incident happened.
According to him, Professor Adaramaja also joined in picking up the littered papers as a show of leadership by example.
Speaking on the issue, Professor Adaramaja dismissed the opposition party’s position and accused it of propaganda.
“What happened at GDSS Amule was a simple reminder that teachers must lead by example in instilling discipline among students, not an act of humiliation,” he said.
He emphasised that his actions have always been guided by a sense of responsibility and service rather than pride or abuse of authority.
Speaking with Daily Trust on Wednesday night, the state NUT Chairman, Yusuf Wahab Agboola, said the union has waded into the matter.
“We visited the school today to find out what really happened. We are forging ahead with other aspects of our findings, including a scheduled meeting with the SUBEB Chairman and the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development.
“So, it is when we have all the details, because we are also hearing some denial from the part of the board, that we will know the next appropriate action to take,” he said.
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