The Provost, Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu, Dr Philip Nto, has said that the sacking of an erring staff member of the institution, Mr Kelvin Egesi, was unconnected to his involvement in union activities.
Nto, however, alleged that Egesi, who was a former chairman of the College of Education Academic Staff Union in the institution, was relieved of his employment because of his involvement in partisan politics.
The Provost spoke on Tuesday shortly after taking journalists on a tour of projects attracted and completed by his administration through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
He explained that the disengaged COEASU leader who had become redundant as a result of a lack of students in his department had gone out of his way to smear the image of the institution through his write-ups on social media on the pretence of fighting for staff welfare.
Nto, added that while Egesi, could have been tolerated for being redundant, but his involvement in partisan politics, where he was a coordinator for some governorship candidate in the state was against the civil service rule. It could not be tolerated by any institution.
“What we did was to discipline an erring staff in the institution that was also redundant. We didn’t disengage him because of union activities.
“We have evidence of his involvement with political activities, the action was not targeted at him as others who openly get involved in partisans politics will be shown the exit door,” he said.
The Provost revealed that the institution’s management had submitted a proposal to the Abia State House of Assembly to convert the college into a University to increase its student population.
His words, “We don’t have enough students to measure up with the staff students ratio. In order to put the infrastructure we have attracted from TETFUND to use we have to upgrade the institution to a full degree awarding institution since the federal government has faced out NCE.”
Some of the projects attracted and completed by the management of the institution include high-impact intervention housing the School of Education complex, School of Arts and social sciences, and School of science education with laboratories.
Others are the School of vocational education complex, the Centre for continuing education complex, the School of Business complex and Abner hall renovated by chief Chikwe Udensi.
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
