Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Parents Applaud FG Over Varsities Investigation Committees

Parents Applaud FG Over Varsities Investigative Committees Some aggrieved parents of students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia have commended the Federal Government for setting up investigative committees for some federal-owned tertiary institutions. The parents were of the view that the committees were not only timely but would stop the schools from sliding under as a result of “sharp unethical practices and financial recklessness pervading in some of the schools”. In a statement issued in Umuahia, the Abia State Capital at the weekend, and signed by the Chairman, Hon Obinna Nwosu and the Secretary, Hon Tony Okoro, the parents regretted that some of the Vice Chancellors had elevated themselves into tin gods to the point of running the institutions like personal fiefdoms. According to them, matters had been made worse in some of the institution by the brazen usurpation of the duties of the Governing Council by the Vice Chancellors thus, rendering the system ineffective. The parents noted that at Michael Okpara University, their petition to the Governing Council over the excesses and recklessness of the management was largely ignored. “When we openly demonstrated against the academic and financial fraud in the University, the management arrested some of us and tortured us in their secret chambers until the police rescued us. Some of the scandalous activities we complained against have been thriving since then”. The aggrieved parents disclosed that they were forced to take their grievances to the National Assembly when it became clear that Prof Edeoga was impervious to reason. “We are appearing before the Senate this Wednesday to defend our petition against Edeoga because our children have really suffered under this man who has compromised the standard of education,” they said. They pointed at the recent “skewed and predetermined selection of a preferred candidate as the next Vice Chancellor by Prof Hillary Edeoga as the greatest academic fraud to be visited in the University.” They also lamented that their wards have lost so many years as their courses had not been accredited whereas the management deceived them to believe otherwise. While urging the Education Minister, Alhaji Adamu Adamu to ensure that the Committees are not only thorough but beyond reproach in the execution of their assignments. They pledged to make available to the Committee visiting Umudike relevant documents that would aid them in the discharge of their duties.

No comments: