Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has given the assurance that his government is working hard to restore accreditation of the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, which the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) recently withdrew from the institution.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, disclosed that plans are underway to restore the accreditation of the Polytechnic, Aba within 30 days.
Chikamnayo said this on Thursday, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Umuahia.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of the polytechnic’s accreditation.
The board hinged its action on the 30 months of staff salaries owed by the State government.
The development came barely two months after the Nigerian Universities Commission also withdrew the accreditation to the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, over some alleged “inadequacies”.
However, Chikamnayo said the government would interface with NBTE, authorities and students of the Polytechnic and stakeholders with a view to addressing the issue on ground.
He said news of the withdrawal of the Polytechnic’s accreditation came to the government as a shock.
He said the institution, as an autonomous entity, was expected to adopt best practices in its operations.
“Since the inception of this government in 2015, N90million subvention has been given to the institution every month, amounting to N7.1billion.
“At a point, the State government gave a N1billion bailout fund to the institution.
“This is an institution that receives school fees, levies and caution fees.
“Therefore, it is expected that it will be able to pay salaries and allowances of staff.
“Their problem stems from poor management and over staffing.
“And whenever they are asked to downsize, the trade union would organise protests,” the commissioner further said.
He warned that disciplinary measures would be taken against the board or management of any government-owned institution that failed in its duties.
Chikamnayo said the government cannot afford to face any form of embarrassment as a result of the ineptitude of a board or management of any such institution.
-NAN