Gov Uzodimma urged to intervene in state’s college of education management crisis

“Rather than engage other management staff, the provost prefers only the services of the college acting registrar,” COEASU alleged.

The union further accused the provost of terminating the acting bursar’s appointment without reason, forcing him to hand over to a new appointee.

“Without any known offence, report or directive from the Governor, the provost wrote to the acting bursar 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 doesn’t accept staff from any ministry,

“Also, we reminded her that the acting bursar’s appointment was a political one by the governing council of college on behalf of the visitor of the college.

“In spite of our petitions, the provost not only forged ahead with the appointment, but forced the acting bursar to handover to the new bursar in a shocking manner that involved the Police.

‘Additionally, the provost does not have regards for the college organogram and has no respect for hierarchy in the college as senior academic staff of the college are relegated and ignored in her administration,’ it stressed.

COEASU said it wrote letters, seeking the state Government’s intervention through the Chief of Staff (General Service), Chief Ferdinard Uzodimma, but Nwachukwu ignored invitations to meet the governor’s aide.

“Following her failure to honour the invitation by the Chief of Staff General Service for possible resolution of the crisis, the union may be left with no other option than to embark on industrial action,” the body threatened.

But in a swift reaction, the provost described COEASU’s allegations as “baseless,” insisting that “all my actions are based on the directives of the state government”.

Nwachukwu told newsmen in a phone interview that the college as a state institution gets directive 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 come out to say I do all the TETFund project alone when I cannot do anything except the state government directs me,” she noted.

On the issue of the acting bursar that was removed, Nwachukwu said the college does not have a governing council, noting that the Honourable Commissioner oversees the affairs of the institution and as such has been on the matter.

“How can I be accused of removing an erring bursar, who went as far as sending threatening messages to me,”? she queried.