Lagos reacts to report that student was sent home over campaign poster

The Lagos State government said it had launched an investigation following a parent’s report that his 10-year-old daughter had been expelled from Odomola Junior Secondary School, Epe, because of an election campaign poster.

The mother had claimed in a viral post that her daughter, Marvelous Barinaadaa, had been sent for using the poster of Labor Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to pack her notebooks.

However, in a statement signed Thursday by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Ganiu Lawal, the government noted that “all its agencies will never direct any principal, staff or teacher to act in this way”. .”

He noted that Education Commissioner Folasade Adefisayo reassured that the matter will be dealt with “within our strict regulations as the reason for sending the student home is unacceptable – if true”.

“Student found selling election posters”

Child Protection Network (CPN) Epe coordinator Togun Olusegun confirmed that the organization is on the issue. He said his organization had already spoken with school authorities and would visit the school on Friday for further information.

According to Mr Olusegun, “the pupil was not suspended but was asked to leave the school when she was caught selling the election poster for N50 on the school premises”.

Mr. Olusegun explained that the principal had taken the decision to avoid the crisis, noting that political activities are not allowed in the school.

In the viral post, the pupil’s mother accuses the school of sending her daughter home without informing the parents. She referred to a short letter signed by the headmaster of the school, which reportedly read: “The student is allowed to return home to campaign for Peter Obi against the wishes of Lagosians.”

“This girl is only ten years old, she didn’t know anything about politics, but she was kicked out of school without telling the parents because they say we support Peter Obi and the Labor Party,” said the mother.

“Please, is this act of the school principal good? You see what the school principal wrote in that letter? And after saying we are a Nigerian,” she said.

Lagos will sanction defaulters

Meanwhile, in the government statement, the commissioner hinted that another school principal in Odonguyan who was filmed promoting his political choice to students was subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Ms. Adefisayo reiterated that the Lagos State Ministry of Education “promotes and operates a public school system devoid of politics and political innuendo”.

“A thorough investigation into the matter will be carried out and anyone found guilty will be subject to disciplinary action as provided for in the civil service regulations,” she added.