The Sokoto State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has suspended six school principals for alleged acts of insubordination and unauthorised collection of fees tied to the Junior Secondary School examination results.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala, approved the immediate suspension effective Monday.
The affected principals are from Nana Girls Secondary School, Sokoto; Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Gagi; GDSS Mana; Giginya Memorial College; Mana Basic Secondary School, Sokoto; and GDSS Silame, suspended specifically for insubordination.
To address the violations, the commissioner has also inaugurated a five-member investigative committee to probe the allegations.
The committee is chaired by Professor Mustapha Namakka Tukur, with members including the Executive Secretary of AIEB, the Director of Quality Assurance, the Director of Planning (Teachers Service Board), and the Director of Quality Assurance, who will also serve as secretary.
The ministry directed the suspended principals to hand over all administrative responsibilities to their respective Vice Principals (Administration) without delay.
“No principal or school administrator will be allowed to act outside the law or exploit students and parents.
“Our schools must be governed by accountability, not personal interests,” Professor Ala said, stressing that the government would not hesitate to sanction any official found wanting.
In 2024, the Federal Ministry of Education warned state governments to ensure compliance with its directives on eliminating illegal levies in public schools, stressing that such practices discourage school enrolment and run contrary to Nigeria’s commitment to universal basic education.
Therefore, the suspension of six principals underscores the Sokoto State government’s renewed drive to enforce discipline and accountability in the education sector.
By stressing that “no principal or school administrator will be allowed to act outside the law or exploit students and parents,” Sokoto State Government is sending a strong message that the era of unchecked practices in public schools is coming to an end. The outcome of the investigation will likely set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the state going forward.
