Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
Peace has finally returned to the Federal Science and Technical College in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, after teachers and management worked out differences that threatened to destabilize the school.
Teachers at the college had accused the administration of refusing to pay the federal government-approved Duty Tour Allowance to staff at Unity Schools across the country.
The teachers also accused the administration of admission racketeering, illegal levies, and misappropriation of funds from the school’s IDEAS World Bank project.
According to reports, the School Based Management Committee (SBMC) stepped in to prevent academic activities from being disrupted.
Mr. Simeon Umoette, chairman of the College’s School Based Management Committee, told reporters in Uyo on Sunday that the committee decided to investigate the allegations in order to restore the peace required for learning.
The committee, according to Umoette, was made up of representatives from the State Ministry of Education, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO)” C” Division Uyo, the Chairman of the Parents/Teachers’ Association (PTA), representatives from the Association of Old Girls Association of the College, and leaders from the host community.
He claimed that all of the allegations stemmed from misunderstandings and a lack of communication between teachers and school administration, and that the situation had been resolved.
Umoette also stated that all of the allegations were false and misleading because the federal government has established standard operating procedures for all Federal Unity Colleges across the country.
“Admissions to Federal Government Colleges are made strictly in accordance with the criteria and guidelines established by the Federal Ministry of Education, not the Principal, as the Teachers claim.”
“Fees are paid through a remittal system, and no one can defraud such a strictly monitored system.”
“Aside from those recommended by the Federal Ministry of Education, there are no illegal levies charged in the college,” he emphasized.
He also revealed that teachers were unaware that the IDEAS World Bank project for the college was awaiting execution because the World Bank has a standard in the execution of their projects that cannot allow for any form of fraud anywhere in the world.
He stated that the main source of contention between teachers and management was the payment of Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), which approximately 90% of staff received.
“The union insisted that the DTA be paid at the new federally approved rate.” They were unaware that, despite the approval, funds were not yet available because management was awaiting funds to implement it.
“Meanwhile, the DTA has been paid at the old rate, with future payments of the difference between the old and new rates subject to funds availability.”
As a result, he urged the public to disregard any reports of alleged frauds and other unfounded misdemeanors against the college administration, as peace has returned to the campus.
Umoette stated that during a meeting of the College’s School Based Management Committee, members voted to support the Director/Principal of the College, Ms. Dinah I. Gogo, for her efforts in attracting federal government presence to the school through a series of infrastructure development and staff capacity building.
He listed the principal’s achievements in the school as academic excellence through student performance in WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB examinations, upgrading of school hostel facilities, a World Bank project for the school, and the college winning prizes and laurels.
Umoette observed that indiscipline from both staff and students, such as tardiness, truancy, irregular attendance in classes, and other vices, caused squabbles among staff members.
He urged parents and students to maintain discipline in all forms because it is a necessary ingredient for learning now that peace has returned to the college.
Rivers APC Promises Massive Investment in Health Sector Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
If elected in the 2023 governorship election, the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has promised to invest heavily in the health sector and ensure the welfare of health professionals from all strata in the state.
The promise was made in response to the recent death of approximately 50 infants due to a measles outbreak in Kugbo community, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of the state.
Mr. Darlington Nwauju, the APC’s State Assistant Publicity Secretary, assured yesterday that its Governorship Candidate, Mr. Tonye Cole, has the capacity to revamp the health system and ensure other positive developments in the state.
The party expressed sorrow over the tragedy that resulted in the deaths of a number of infants, adding that it was a preventable incident if a strong healthcare policy program had been in place.
The APC, on the other hand, expressed its condolences to the bereaved families and the Odual people for the tragic loss.
“The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State and its Governorship candidate have reacted to the mass deaths of infants in a part of the state and have thus vowed to unveil a comprehensive roadmap for the state’s health sector to tackle infant, child mortality, and other health needs of the Rivers people.”
“The reaction to the reported death of over 50 children in the Kugbo Clan of Abua/Odual LGA of Rivers State is as a result of a reported measles outbreak, which the party believes could have been avoided if a robust healthcare policy program had been in place.”
“Unfortunately, this tragedy has highlighted the challenges of portable water, proper sanitation, and hygiene in the affected area.”
“With the array of credible candidates it has presented Rivers people, the APC in Rivers State has already positioned itself as an alternative hope for the masses, and the choices are easy for Rivers people to make.”
“We commit to building a strong economy for the state and reducing poverty by creating jobs for our people regardless of party or ethnicity.”
“An APC government in Rivers State will invest heavily in the health sector and care for the welfare of health professionals from all walks of life.”
“We will be proactive in responding to our people’s health needs by establishing Standard Disease Control Units and strengthening the primary healthcare delivery system in all 23 local government areas of the state in order to drastically reduce incidences of mortalities in rural areas or reduce the scale of damage,” the party promised.
