The Principal of Methodist Girls’ High School, Ifaki Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, has been suspended from the job for being absent from duty when Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi came visiting.

Schools across the Nigerian federation have been shut since March in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease in Africa’s most populous country.

However, some restrictions are being gradually relaxed. Federal and state governments have allowed students of exit classes like Primary 6 and SSS3 to return to the classrooms just so they could prepare for their final tests.

Fayemi ordered the reopening of schools in Ekiti from Monday, August 9 and embarked on an inspection tour of some of the reopened schools to have a firsthand feel of safety measures and health protocols.

The Assistant Director of Information in the Ekiti State Ministry of Education, Kunle Adeniyi, told the press afterwards that the school principal was handed the marching orders for not being present as the governor visited.

This, he said, was an act of defiance and insubordination.

“Sequel to the reopening of the schools for SSS3 Students in the state, His Excellency, Dr. Kayode Fayemi made on-the-spot assessment to some public secondary schools across the state in compliance with COVID-19 protocols,” Adeniyi said.

“Accompanying His Excellency on the visit were the Hon Commissioner for Education Science and Technology , Mr Foluso Daramola , the Chairman, Task Force on COVID-19, Professor Bolaji Aluko and other top government functionaries.

“At Methodist Girls High School, Ifaki Ekiti , the principal was not available to receive the governor and his entourage and made the monitoring exercise impossible in the school in spite of the notice from the Ministry of Education Science and Technology.

“Arising from this defiant behaviour, the Honorable Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology has directed that the principal should hand over the management of the school to the most senior vice principal in the school and proceed on suspension with immediate effect pending the conclusion of appropriate disciplinary action by the Teaching Service Commission.”

Universities and other classes in primary and secondary schools are still shut nationwide; as state and federal governments mull over whether to leave them shut throughout 2020 or impose strict safety guidelines ahead of reopening.