Officials from the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) have decided to demote Mr. Sani Ahmed, formerly the headteacher of Hammadu-Kaffi Primary School in the Akko Local Government Area. This decision comes after Mr. Sani Ahmed spoke to WikkiTimes in an investigation that documented the terrible conditions of the school.
In an interview with WikkiTimes during his tenure as headteacher, Mr. Sani Ahmed raised concerns about an unfinished project within the school premises. WikkiTimes story had documented how in 2021, Coccon Nigeria Limited was awarded a contract by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs to construct a block of six classrooms and VIP toilets. The project which intended to address critical challenges faced by the school, remained incomplete.
Teachers, Pupils In Gombe Schools Suffer As Classroom, Toilet Projects Remain A Mirage
The school’s teachers resorted to using their own resources to purchase essential teaching materials such as chalk, desks, and chairs for the over 2,000 students.
Additionally, both teachers and students shared just two latrine toilets—one for teachers and the other for the entire student body. Due to the strain on these facilities, they became unsanitary, and the school struggled to maintain cleanliness due to issues with the only handpump borehole, which had developed faults.
WikkiTimes can report that the Director of Budget at Gombe SUBEB, Dan’azumi, allegedly instructed the Akko Local Government Education Secretary, Abubakar Boyi, to demote Mr. Sani Ahmed from his position as headteacher as a result of his media interview regarding these various issues that the board had not adequately addressed.
The director ordered Mr. Sani Ahmed’s transfer to a distant location as a form of punishment for granting an interview to journalists without seeking approval from his superiors.
Mr. Sani Ahmed has been relocated to a remote primary school, Kalshinge Primary School, situated approximately 8 kilometers away from his previous posting.
When contacted for comment, Gombe SUBEB declined to provide any statements on the matter and directed inquiries to Akko Local Government Education Secretary, Abubakar Boyi.
Mr. Boyi confirmed Mr. Sani Ahmed’s transfer to Kalshingi Primary School and later to Beto Primary School within a month. He criticized Mr. Sani Ahmed for divulging information without prior authorization, stating that he should have consulted with higher authorities before going public with the issues.
However, Mr. Boyi acknowledged Mr. Sani Ahmed’s dedication to his teaching duties, describing him as a committed educator.
The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Gombe State Chapter said it was unaware of Mr. Sani Ahmed’s case but pledged to investigate the matter further.
