Misconduct: Sokoto Authorities Suspend Six Principals

Due to allegations of insubordination and unauthorized fee collection related to the Junior Secondary School test results, the Sokoto State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has suspended six school principals.

Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala, the state commissioner for basic and secondary education, gave his approval for the suspension to take effect immediately on Monday.

Giginya Memorial College, Nana Girls Secondary School, Sokoto, Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Gagi, GDSS Mana, Mana Basic Secondary School, Sokoto, and GDSS Silame are among the principals who have been suspended for insubordination.

A five-member investigative committee has also been established by the commissioner to look into the claims in order to resolve the infractions.
Professor Mustapha Namakka Tukur is the chair of the committee, which also includes the Director of Planning (Teachers Service Board), the Executive Secretary of AIEB, the Director of Quality Assurance, and the Director of Quality Assurance, who will also act as secretary.

The ministry instructed the suspended principals to immediately transfer all administrative duties to their corresponding Vice Principals (Administration).
The ministry restated its commitment to discipline, accountability, and openness in all public schools in Sokoto State in a statement signed by Ibrahim Mohammad Iya, the ministry’s public relations officer, and provided to reporters on Friday on behalf of the commissioner.

“School administrators and principals will not be permitted to violate the law or take advantage of parents and students.”

“Accountability, not personal interests, must govern our schools,” Professor Ala stated, emphasizing that the government would not hold back from punishing any official who was proven to be deficient.

The Federal Ministry of Education issued a warning to state governments in 2024 to make sure they followed its instructions to remove unlawful fees from public schools. The ministry emphasized that these practices deter students from enrolling in school and are incompatible with Nigeria’s goal to universal basic education.

Thus, the Sokoto State government’s increased determination to impose accountability and discipline in the education sector is demonstrated by the suspension of six principals.

The Sokoto State Government is making it clear that, by emphasizing that “no principal or school administrator will be allowed to act outside the law or exploit students and parents,” the days of unregulated operations in public schools are over. A precedent for handling similar issues in the future in the state will probably be established by the investigation’s conclusion.