Kwara PDP criticizes handling teachers by SUBEB chairman

By Lateef Ibrahim with agency report

Kwara State main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has strongly condemned the incident at the Government Day Secondary School, Amule, where the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWASUBEB), Professor Raheem Adaramaja, allagedly humiliated teachers.
He was said to have forced teachers, including the school Vice Principal, to sweep the school premises in the full glare of students during a supposed inspection visit.
According to credible eyewitnesses, Adaramaja, allegedly accused the teachers of keeping an unkempt environment, and ordered them to pick up dirts within the school premises, despite explanations that the students had just returned from break time.
A statement by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, viewed Adaramaja’s action “not as an enforcement of discipline, but as a severe abuse of office and a public degradation of our dedicated educational professionals who are operating under harsh working environments.”
The party asked Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq if this is the new standard for the teaching profession in Kwara.
“To have a Professor who himself was a teacher before access to public office, strip teachers of their dignity and compel them to perform tasks that belong to labourers, all in the presence of the students they are meant to inspire.
“This act, coming from Adaramaja stands as a symbol of arrogance, insensitivity, and moral bankruptcy,” the party noted.
The party called on the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), to immediately rise in defense of their members and ensure that the dignity of teachers is never again trampled upon by power-intoxicated government officials.
“Adaramaja must immediately issue an unreserved public apology to the teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Amule, and the entire teaching community in Kwara State for his shameless act.
“We also call on Governor Abdulrahman to publicly condemn this action and sanction the SUBEB Chairman if truly Governor is not in the know of this so that the dignity of civil servants is protected in Kwara State,” the party added.
In a reaction, chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Ilorin East branch, Comrade Saka Saafi Adanla, sympathized with the management and staff of the school over the unfortunate incident during the subeb chairman’s visit to the school on Monday.
“I want to express my deepest sympathy and solidarity with you over the unfortunate incident that occurred during the SUBEB Chairman’s visit to your school.
“The humiliation and disrespect meted out to you by the chairman is totally unacceptable and uncalled for. I assure you that the State Leadership of NUT Kwara State Wing is fully aware of the situation and is working tirelessly to address this issue.
“We condemn this behaviour in the strongest terms and demand an apology from the SUBEB Chairman.
“Please be assured that we are on top of the situation and will ensure that your rights and dignity are protected,” the branch Union chairman stated