LAGOS ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR SUSPENSION OF TEACHERS OVER PHYSICAL COMBAT

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called for the suspension of the head teacher and some teaching staff of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) International Staff School, Ijanikin.

This followed the presentation of a report by the House Committee on Education, which investigated the physical combats among the Head Teacher of the School, Mr. Ogunmade and some teachers in the school including Mrs. Adekoya, Mr. Agboola, and Mr. Shittu.

It was alleged that the Head Teacher was beaten by members of staff outside his office and was rescued by the Chief Security Officer (CSO).

The House at its plenary session on March 10, mandated its Committee on Education to investigate the matter and submit it’s report findings to the House.

The fracas, which occurred on March 8, between the Head Teacher and the teachers was said to have been caused by the non-payment of February salary of 74 out of 84 teachers of the school following their refusal to perform an audit exercise.

The incident was said to have led to the alleged stabbing of Mr. Agboola with household knife by the head teacher, Mr Ogunmade while other teachers allegedly joined hands to beat up the head teacher.

The Committee observed in the report presented on the floor of the House on Monday by its Chairman, Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi that the investigative panel set up by the school management was not independently constituted because it consisted only members of management.

“The testimony of the Medical Director of Badagry General Hospital is indicative of Mr. Agboola as having been stabbed with a knife. There was a brawl in the office of the Headteacher due to an attempt by some members of staff to ground all academic and administrative activities.”

The committee said in its recommendation that all the teachers involved in the brawl on Tuesday, 8th March, 2016 should be ordered to pass through disciplinary action.

It was recommended further that the Headteacher, Mr. Ogunnmade involved in the brawl, who was alleged to have stabbed Mr. Agboola should also face disciplinary action in line with extant rules guiding the conduct of teachers in the school.

“The management team should ensure peace and tranquility in the schools. The management should also ensure that a cordial relationship exist between them and the teachers,” the committee added in the recommendation.