Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has sacked the chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Dr. Gabriel Ajah, and appointed Dr. Hyginus Bankho as his replacement with immediate effect.
Dr. Ajah, a former Secretary to the State Government under the previous administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, announced his removal to the board and staff during an emergency meeting on Monday, stating that the governor had directed him to step aside.
He explained that the state government had carried out a minor reshuffle of the board, resulting in Dr. Bankho, previously the Member 2 of the Board, taking over as the new chairman.
Meanwhile, Dr. Amaka Ngene, who was Member 1 of the Board has been moved to the Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board (STVSMB) as the Chairman.
No reason has been given by the state government for Dr. Ajah’s removal.
Earlier in May, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism [FIJ] had reported that in March 2024, five primary school teachers were dismissed by the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) for alleged misconduct, insubordination and violation of public service rules.
FIJ reported that then ENSUBEB chairman, Gabriel Ajah, “had publicly revealed that the five teachers were found guilty of some allegations by the board and dismissed accordingly.
“But aside from being primary school teachers, the dismissed teachers also had another thing in common. They had all publicly called out to Peter Mbah, the Enugu State Governor, to increase the salaries of primary school teachers in the state a month before the dismissal.
“Peter Mbah listened to the agitations and ordered the implementation of N30,000 as the minimum wage for civil servants in the state, in line with the directive given by the federal government in 2019.”
