The Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Saminaka in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, Ndatsu Yahaya, has been demoted to a classroom teacher for embezzling money meant for WAEC and NECO fees of some students in the school.

The Director of Test Measurement and Evaluation, Garba Hassan, who made this known, said the Principal who was under pressure from the community, ran to the Niger State Ministry of Education to influence the ministry to register the students for WAEC but failed.

Hassan, who disclosed that the Principal has confessed to the embezzlement, stated that over 40 students were affected in the WAEC saga, adding that 13 students were affected in the NECO case.

The director, however, said the ministry would register the affected students for the external examinations of WAEC and NECO.

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He disclosed that apart from being demoted to a classroom teacher, the Principal has paid N80,000 out of the affected money while decision have been taken that his salary would be converted for paying the embezzled money.

He stated that the case has been forwarded to the CAC for discipline according to the civil service rule.

Hassan added that principals of five other secondary schools across Niger State have also been invited regarding allegations of embezzlement of examination fees of students.

Speaking on the incident, Yahaya said he gave the money to a POS operator who he does not know his whereabouts anymore.

It was however gathered the principal had attempted to invest the money in a dubious venture which did not work out.

The Star