Imo Govt Denies Accusations of Coercion, Totalitarianism, Clarifies Stance

The Imo Government has denied accusations of coercion leveled against it by the Bishop of the Catholic archdiocese of Owerri, His Grace, Bishop Lucius Ugorji.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha denied the allegations while
speaking with newsmen in Owerri, on Monday.

Reports have it that Ugorji, in a release on Friday, accused the commissioner of issuing threats of punitive measures against educators who voice professional concerns, and trying to exclusively choose textbooks from the list of government approved textbooks and unilaterally fixing their prices.

The prelate argued that rather than serve the best interest of school children, the policies seek to foster an environment of fear and coercion, as well as of intellectual subjugation and stagnation.

He added that this threatens the foundational principles of the educational system, strips educators of much-desired initiatives and decision-making power, and replaces them with rigid and flawed directives.

“The current leadership in the Imo Ministry of Education has chosen to embrace dictatorship and high-handedness, and to operate through intimidation, silencing dissenting voices, and dismantling democratic procedures”, Ugorji said.

Ikegwuoha described the archbishop as “my spiritual father with whom cannot join issues”.

Prof. Ikegwuoha

He described some of the issues raised were “too sensitive for public debate in the interest of national unity”.

He however said that the Ministry of Education never coerced anyone into taking part in any unilateral decision but has always insisted on opinions of all stakeholders in decision making.

The commissioner said that there is one education system in Nigeria, one curriculum and one
set of examinations for all students, hence the need for uniformity of academic calendar for all, including faith-based schools.

He denied unilaterally fixing prices for school books, saying that prices were agreed upon by a committee comprised of parents and schools’ representatives and chaired by the ministry’s
Permanent Secretary.

He called on faith based schools in the state, especially the education secretaries of Catholic
schools, to attend stakeholders’ meetings, use approved textbooks and insist on the committee’s approved prices.

Ikegwuoha, an alumnus of the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, restated his commitment to holistic reforms such as employment of qualified teachers, non-tolerance of malpractice and
recertification of private schools by March 2027.