Govt. set to review Abia Poly law, enthrone sustainable governance culture

By Ijendu Iheaka

February 13, 2017

The Abia Commissioner for Education, Prof Ikechi Mgboji, said on Tuesday that the law establishing the state polytechnic would be reviewed, to ensure the application of global best practices in education.

Mgboji said this while introducing the new Acting Rector, Prof. Ezionye Eboh, and the new Acting Registrar, Mrs Comfort Nwabughiogu, to the school community.

He said that the issues of bad administration and poor choices that had bedeviled the institution were being addressed to enthrone an enduring sustainable good governance culture.

“I want to work with the new management and the Abia House of Assembly to ensure that the law establishing this institution will be looked at.

“This is to ensure that best practices on how schools are governed will apply, so that by the time we are gone, whatever good ideas that we may have, will not go with us but will be part and parcel of the system.”

He said that in Canada, where he had lectured, students comprised one third of committees that take important decisions in the university, adding that he wanted to replicate same in Abia Polytechnic.

He also noted that the problem which grounded the polytechnic was created by staff of the institution, adding that a lasting solution could only be found by looking inwards.

“Records show that this is the most expensive polytechnic in the South-East. You pay heavy fees but you do not get value for money.”

He, however, informed the gathering that the governor had approved an emergency relief fund to pay two months’ salaries of staff.

But he warned that the government would not continue to give money for the payment of salaries of professors, lecturers and others.

“Even though it is not the duty of the governor to pay salaries of the teachers here; I bring you good news.

“The governor has approved an emergency relief fund to pay two months’ salaries.”

The commissioner identified some of the institution’s challenges as bloated work force and inefficient management of resources, adding that N30 million a month on overhead was too high.

“I believe that you do not need 95 security men; the school is all fenced up. In these days when you mount CCTV in home toilets, must you have 95 security men? Does it make sense to you? Must you have 44 or so staff in the bookstore? 

“Must you have pensionable workers in a canteen when you have decent “mamaput” sellers who will willingly for a fee come and sell to us the best food in the school?

“Why is it that they have 44 bank accounts even though we have only 25 banks in the country?

“Even you, as an individual, if you have 44 bank accounts will you know where all your money is?” he queried.

Mgboji urged students and staff of the polytechnic to support the effort of the governor to restore sanity and life to the school for the benefit of all stakeholders.