The Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Ebonyi State, Mr. Felix Nomeh, has publicly withdrawn his earlier allegation that cultists were deployed by the state government into the committee tasked with shutting down substandard and illegal schools.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abakaliki, Nomeh admitted that his initial claim was made in error and based on misinformation.
He clarified that the individuals who allegedly threatened him were not members of the state-sanctioned committee.
"After careful verification, the hoodlums who attacked me have been identified, and they were never part of the committee.
"I regret my earlier comments and tender an unreserved apology to both the committee and the Ministry of Education," he said.
Nomeh's reversal came days after the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr. Illang Donatus, demanded he provide evidence to support his accusations or face legal action.
The NAPPS chairman has now commended the committee for its professionalism and commitment to enforcing the Ebonyi State Government's new education policies.
He assured full cooperation from private school proprietors in the state to support the government's efforts in sanitizing the education sector.
“Our association is now fully aligned with the state’s reform agenda. We support the closure of illegal and substandard schools and will work closely with the government to ensure quality education,” Nomeh stated.
The committee, set up by the Ebonyi State Government, has been inspecting and closing schools that fall short of regulatory standards as part of a broader initiative to raise educational quality across the state.
Observers have welcomed Nomeh’s retraction, seeing it as a positive move toward collaboration between the government and private education stakeholders.
