Crisis is brewing at the Abia state College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu(ASCETA)as the two staff unions; the College of Education Academic Staff unions at the Abia State Colleges of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, (ASCETA) over alleged mismanagement of funds accruing to the College by the Provost, Dr. Christian Nwamuo.
In the petition jointly signed by Comrade J.K. Ugbuta, Chairman, COEASU and D Comrade D.O. Nwosu, Chairman, NASU, the provost was accused of mismanagement of subventions and TETFUND facilities to the college.
The Provost, Dr. Nwamuo has mismanaged subventions and TETFUND facilities to the college. Workers are being owed salaries of the institution are being owed over five months salary arrears. We can’t tell what the Provost has done with the subventions the state government released to the College for those months,” the Unions said
They also accused of victimizing staff through undue suspensions, surcharges, withholding of salaries, wrongful retirements and outright dismissals on trumped up charges as well as denial of staff promotions, non implementation of promotions since 2008, among others.
“Appointment of Deans/Heads of academic departments (HODs) and Heads of administrative units (HOUs) without qualification and merit and disparity in real terms of salary given to staff on the same rank in different banks.
“Indiscriminate increase in school fees and imposition of levies on, as well as non-provision of necessary facilities for students thereby scaring potential students away and forcing the students population down to less than 1,000 in all departments.
The workers also accused the provost of mismanagement of TETFUND interventions leading to College being indebted to many banks and filling stations.
The workers called on the state governor to investigate the Provost to save the institution from impending collapse and the mortgaging of the future of students, staff as well as stagnation and reversal of development of the college.”
Contacted on telephone, the Provost accused the unions in the College of always opposing his efforts to give the institution a facelift. He added that that the authorities assessed his performance and reappointed him for a second term.
Nwamuo called on the two unions to join hands to take the College to greater heights instead of unnecessary opposition which he said will stifle the growth of the institution.