Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government has threatened to sanction school proprietors who violate the directive to resume school on September 23.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who made the threat during a press briefing on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting, said no school whether private or public should resume academic activities earlier than the September 23 resumption date.
He regretted that some schools had already flouted the directive and warned that they would not go unpunished.
According to him, such violation, runs counter to the strong regulatory measures being put in place by the Governor Alex Otti administration in the education sector.
He maintained that the Ministry of Education would carry out some investigations to find out those schools that flouted the directive on the due date for resumption of schools for the new academic year.
“Some schools went ahead and resumed yesterday against the directive that was given by the Ministry of Education.
“As the government is reforming the education sector, government thinks that it is necessary to ensure that a very strong regulatory environment is put in place to regulate the sector.
“Those principals who stepped out of line to reopen schools yesterday may be sanctioned,” Prince Kanu stated.
Speaking further, he said that the Committee on the recovery of school lands had observed that apart from private individuals, religious organisations, communities and market associations were part of those that took over public lands illegally.
He said that the committee would not relent in the task to recover all such encumbered parcels of land.
The Commissioner cautioned that Government would no longer tolerate the malicious destruction of public property by anybody.
He disclosed that the management of a company that damaged manholes along the Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard have been arrested.
“The state government is using this opportunity to call on communities, traditional rulers and youths to take ownership of all government properties within their communities.
“Government cannot be spending billions of Naira to ensure that necessary infrastructure are put in place for the comfort and convenience of the citizenry and unscrupulous individuals will be busy destroying these properties.”
He regretted that such acts negate government’s efforts to turn Umuahia and Aba into smart cities and appealed to Traditional rulers and youth leaders of communities to take ownership of facilities put in place in their areas by the state government.
He disclosed that Abia State would be hosting a delegation of South-East Council of Traditional Rulers on the 24th of this month, noting that the influx of investors, Professional Associations and other relevant groups to the state attests to the leadership qualities of Governor Alex Otti who has continued to make waves with the achievements of his administration after barely fourteen months in office.
Responding to questions from newsmen, the General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Agency, Mr Kingsley Agomoh, said that over 15 manholes have been destroyed along the newly commissioned 6-lane Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard.
He said Government would no longer fold its arms and watch public facilities being wilfully destroyed by careless individuals.
“More than 15 manholes have been removed and destroyed along the Boulevard. It is something no government should tolerate,” he stated.
