Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Students of Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, have thrown their weight behind Gov Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and the Management on the on-going re-organisation in the institution.
This is coming on the heels of the face-off between the Management of the institution and the national body of College of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, which last week called for the sack of the Provost, Dr Philip Nto, for allegedly sacking a staff of the institution over unionism.
The students frowned at what they described as interference in the affairs of the institution by COEASU national leadership.
Leadership of the Students Union Government, in a press statement, warned COEASU to desist from meddling in the internal affairs of ASCETA, saying that both the Abia State Government and the management of the college are on the right track.
The students in the statement signed by SUG President, Ikeokwu Christian; and the Secretary General, Chidinma Ihemere; regretted that some former staff of the college want to politicise the reorganisation exercise because they were affected.
The statement made available to Ikengaonline read in part: “We condemn the politicisation of the reorganisation exercise which started two years ago. We condemn the interference by external forces. We warn that nobody should use the exercise to insult our indefatigable Governor.”
They expressed disappointment that some of those affected by the exercise had abandoned their primary responsibility to engage openly in partisan politics.
“It is reprehensible that a teacher will leave his job to join the opposition to plot how to undermine our Governor and his party,” they fumed.
They, however, appealed to Gov. Ikpeazu to ignore the antics of such people and pay greater attention to the welfare of loyal and hardworking staff of the college.
They appreciated the Governor for paying two months salaries of teachers and other staff last December and pleaded with him to magnanimously address the remaining arrears.
The students further passed a vote of confidence on the Provost of the institution, Dr Nto, saying that he has out-performed all previous provosts put together.
According to them, Dr Nto excelled both in academics and infrastructure, noting that it took his coming for graduates of the institution to receive their original certificates since the establishment of the college 30 years ago.
They cited the construction of more than 10 first class buildings including classrooms, laboratories, library, auditorium and offices as part of the infrastructural development carried out by the Provost.
The students also commended the Provost over his insistence that only qualified hands teach in the institution, a development that has led to improved quality of education delivered to students.
