CORRUPTION, EXTORTION AND INTIMIDATION GALORE AT FGC, GANYE: PRINCIPAL FINGERED BY PTA IN A SHOCKING PETITION (Part 1)

By Sahid Umar

The Principal of Federal Government College (FGC), Ganye, Mr. Peter Mustapha Waziri, has been accused of perpetrating massive corruption, extortion and intimidation by the Parents’ Teachers Association (PTA) of the College. The allegations are contained in a petition to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Secretariat, Abuja, dated September 29^th, 2021.

In the 9-page petition, the PTA made thirteen allegations of corruption, extortion and intimidation against      Mr. Peter Mustapha Waziri. The first allegation is unilateral increase in tuition/school fees without the knowledge of the parents, teachers and stakeholders which caused many parents to protest and some to withdraw their children from the institution.

Secondly, the Principal is accused of charging new students N5, 000 for lockers which are not provided to them at the end of the day. Yet, any inquiry into the matter is met with insults and intimidation especially where members of staff are involved in getting the right thing done.

Other allegations are the payment of staff claims in the institution which have been turned into a conduit pipe of corruption. For instance, any staff who claims a certain amount of money is made to sign for the whole amount but given half of it and the remaining balance is converted to personal use. Woe befalls who dares to question the Principal as he’ll be victimized, publicly insulted and intimidated and the  renovation of the Sports Pavilion which cost N10 million and yet sub-standard work was done. Due to the poor execution of the project, the roof of the pavilion was blown off by windstorm and the place is yet to be put to use by the school.

The fifth allegation is that, against the law and laid down procedures, the Principal, in some cases, collects school fees personally without issuing receipts to that effect rather than paying it into the Bank Account of the school while the misuse of N30 million Covid-19 fund is the sixth allegation. The development led to series of meetings and enquiries from members of staff as well as parents. Now, the issue is dying natural death due to time lapse and courageous people to confront the Principal.

The seventh and eight allegations are that the Principal controls not only his office but has usurped completely the role and responsibility of the Bursar by settling claims personally as if the institution is his own private outfit thereby acting ultravires his powers. The Bursary is now rendered redundant and this has led to a series of corrupt practices, extortion and cheating by the Principal as well as the payment of DTA for staff who attend Conferences, workshops and seminars remain unpaid by the Principal and this affects the productive capacity of the staff and by extension the quality of education in the institution. This is the eight allegation.

The ninth and tenth allegations are unnecessary de-boarding of students who in one way or the other escape from school due to hunger and/or looking for other necessities. This problem emanates from poor feeding of students. Such de-boarded students are charged N10, 000 for re-admission. Given the lucrative nature of this exercise, the Principal now engages in the practice and makes sure that certain number of students are de-boarded in anticipation of the N10, 000. It is no longer business as usual for the Principal but an avenue of extorting money from parents which is not different from a business venture  and the  sharp drop in students’ intake and population in the institution which has a direct bearing on the capacity and performance of students especially during final exams. This is a result of degenerating state of learning.

The eleventh and twelfth allegations are that students paid fifteen thousand Naira (N15, 000) for textbooks but some are not supplied. The same thing applies to Questions and Answer Books and that casual workers in the institution who are paid N8, 000 are made to sign for N8, 000 but given only N4, 000; and the depletion of both MSSN and FCS bank accounts by the Principal. Again, the PTA Bank Account is not receiving payment directly because the Principal wants cash payment so as to siphon it.

Besides, school vehicles that breakdown are not repaired; those functioning are not effectively managed. Again PTA levy of N4, 000 has been unilaterally increased without consultation with the PTA.

The thirteenth and fourteenth allegations are non-payment of contracts, provision of poor teaching materials which undermine the productive capacity of the students. There is also the issue of housing female Corpers in his residence and extra-marital affairs with married women some of whose husbands are members of staff of the institution with accompanying scandals which could bring shame to the institution as well as the problem of the staff of the Nusery/Primary School belonging to the Institution. The allegation is that the Principal has infiltrated the Nusery/Primary due to monetary gains.

 In an interview with both academic and non-academic staff of the Federal Government College, Ganye, by this paper, most of them complained of financial malfeasance, high-handedness and intimidation by the Principal. They generally agreed with the contents of the PTA’s petition against the Principal and called for sanctions should the Federal Ministry of Education find him wanting as regards the allegations against him. When I spoke to some PTA members, they reiterated the issues raised in the petition and they said they stand by their allegations.     

On his part, the Principal exonerated himself and said he committed no wrong at all (Part 11 is the full interview with the Principal).