The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has lamented the crisis currently affecting the management of Benjamin Uwajumogu State College of Education, Ihitte Uboma, in Imo State, urging the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, to urgently intervene to prevent a total breakdown of law and order.
COEASU Chairman in the college, Comrade Wilson Amandi, and Secretary, Rev. Fr. (Comrade) Benedict Amuchie, called for the governor’s intervention in a statement made available to newsmen in Owerri on Tuesday.
The union threatened industrial action within two weeks if the crisis is not resolved, accusing Acting Provost Dr. Chinyere Nwachukwu of abuse of power and awarding contracts without due process.
The union stated that the provost had been acting for 30 months but paid imprest for only five months to directors, deans, and heads of departments (HODs).
It claimed that directors, deans, and HODs have been using their own money to prepare accreditation documents and logistics since March 2024 and have not been reimbursed despite applying to Nwachukwu for refunds.
The union alleged that the provost single-handedly procured items and awarded TETFund contracts without involving academic deans and HODs or following due process.
“She also awards TETFund contracts in the college without following the Procurement Act 2007 guidelines and has awarded over N1.5 billion in contracts without a Tender Board, which comprises academic deans and HODs,” the union alleged.
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The union further accused Nwachukwu of solely assessing TETFund for microteaching laboratory equipment without consulting the HOD of the relevant office.
It claimed that TETFund projects executed under her watch are poorly designed and implemented and do not align with the college’s development plan.
They also alleged that offices and furniture for lecturers, directors, deans, and HODs are lacking, with claims of insecurity cited as the reason for the non-provision of these essentials not being investigated.
The statement read in part: “The academic staff of the college is not considered in the scheme of activities, including project monitoring, which she conducts solely with the TETFund team.
“The college’s neglect and abandonment of projects have made it unattractive to students.
“Rather than engage other management staff, the provost prefers to rely solely on the services of the acting registrar,” COEASU claimed.
The union further accused the provost of terminating the acting bursar’s appointment without justification, forcing him to hand over to a new appointee.
“Without any known offense, report, or directive from the governor, the provost wrote to the acting bursar, instructing him to hand over to a new appointee from the Imo Ministry of Housing Corporation.
“The union reminded the provost that the college is autonomous and not part of the ministry and therefore does not accept staff from any ministry.
“We also reminded her that the acting bursar’s appointment was a political one by the governing council of the college on behalf of the visitor to the college.
“In spite of our petitions, the provost not only proceeded with the appointment but also forced the acting bursar to hand over to the new bursar in a shocking manner that involved the police.
“Additionally, the provost does not respect the college organogram and disregards hierarchy in the administration, relegating senior academic staff,” the statement alleged.
COEASU said it had written letters seeking the state government’s intervention through the Chief of Staff (General Service), Chief Ferdinand Uzodimma, but Nwachukwu ignored invitations to meet the governor’s aide.
“Following her failure to honor the invitation by the Chief of Staff for possible resolution of the crisis, the union may have no other option but to embark on industrial action,” the body threatened.
In a swift reaction, the provost described COEASU’s allegations as “baseless,” insisting that “all my actions are based on directives from the state government.”
Nwachukwu told newsmen in a phone interview that the college, as a state institution, receives directives from the state government.
“I take orders from them, and they direct me, especially on TETFund issues.
“The college and other tertiary institutions in the state work with the Special Adviser to the Governor on TETFund Intervention and other services.
“So, I would not know why someone would claim that I execute all the TETFund projects alone when I cannot do anything without directives from the state government,” she noted.
On the issue of the acting bursar who was removed, Nwachukwu stated that the college does not have a governing council, and the Honorable Commissioner oversees the institution’s affairs.
“How can I be accused of removing an erring bursar who went as far as sending threatening messages to me?” she queried.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE