A principal, Malam Ndatsu Yahaya, has allegedly embezzled monies meant for West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO).
Yahaya, who was the principal of Government Day Secondary School, Saminaka, Lapai, in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, was demoted to the position of a class teacher for the crime.
According to reports available to NIGERIACRIME, the principal mismanaged the exam fees of over 40 students for WAEC and 13 for NECO.
It was learnt that Yahaya had earlier invested the monies in a questionable business venture that failed.
Following his inability to register the students that paid for their exams, their principal illegal’s business was exposed.
The development was confirmed by the Director of Test Measurement and Evaluation at the Niger State Ministry of Education, Garba Hassan, who explained that the principal, who came under pressure from the community on the exam fees of their children and wards, ran to the state Ministry of Education to influence the registration of students for WAEC but failed.
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According to Hassan, the principal eventually opened up about what transpired in his school regarding the exam fees of some of the students.
The Director said, “Over 40 students were affected in the WAEC case and 13 students in the NECO case. However, the Ministry has taken the responsibility to register the affected students for the external examinations.”
It was learnt that, aside from his demotion to a class teacher, his case has been forwarded to the CAC for disciplinary action under the civil service rules.
Yahaya has so far paid the sum of N80,000 out of the money he misappropriated, while the remaining balance will be deducted from his salary.
Hassan further revealed that principals of five other secondary schools in the state are presently being investigated for similar allegations of misappropriation of their students’ examination fees.
“The state Ministry of Education has called for calm, and we assure all affected parents that they will be reimbursed,” he stated.