Kwara Teacher Demoted for Assaulting Corps Member

A teacher in Kwara State has been demoted for physically attacking a youth corps member, sparking outrage and calls for stricter discipline in schools.

A disturbing incident has come to light, where a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member was assaulted and stripped by some teachers at Government Day Junior Secondary School in Kulende, Ilorin, Kwara state. The reason behind this shocking act was that the corps member did not greet the teachers properly.

Hajia Hamzat Fatimoh Nike, a teacher at Government Day Junior Secondary School in Kulende, Ilorin, Kwara state, has been demoted for physically attacking a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member. This decision was made by the Kwara state government, as announced in a joint statement by the state's Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa'adatu Modibbo-Kawu, and the Executive Chairman of the Kwara state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mallam Tauheed Abubakar.

The incident occurred on November 29, when the corps member visited the school to collect her clearance letter. Following the demotion, Nike's actions have been widely condemned, highlighting concerns about teacher conduct and student safety in schools. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment.

Government Day Junior Secondary School is one of the many schools in Ilorin, Kwara state, with a rich history of providing quality education. However, this incident underscores the need for ongoing efforts to ensure that schools maintain high standards of teacher conduct and student safety.

According to the press secretary of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Bola Onile, an investigative panel was set up to look into the matter. The panel found Hajia Hamzat Fatimoh Nike, one of the teachers involved, guilty of several offenses. As Onile stated, “The investigative panel found Hajia Hamzat Fatimoh Nike guilty of fighting on duty, using foul language, insubordination and disrespecting the national identity represented by the corps members uniform.” As a result, Nike has been demoted by the Kwara state government.

“Her actions contravene public service rules.

“She has been demoted by two grade levels, transferred out of the school and will undergo counselling sessions.

“The state government will not tolerate abuse of any kind.

“We deeply regret the teacher's behaviour and assure the NYSC management that this does not reflect the values of the people of Kwara State.

“Such incidents will not be allowed to recur.”

Bola emphasized the importance of teachers adhering to the law and performing their duties according to established guidelines. He also reassured the public that the government is committed to enhancing training in teaching ethics and service standards.

Following the incident, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) removed all corps members assigned to both the junior and senior levels of the school. This decision was made to ensure the safety of the corps members, as confirmed by Oladipo Morakinyo, the state's Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the NYSC.

Morakinyo explained that the temporary withdrawal of corps members was necessary to protect them from potential harm. He also stated that the NYSC would seek redress for the assaulted corps member and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.