The Governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Bishop Dr. Sunday Onuoha, has said the issue of de-accreditation of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, de-accreditation of College of Medicine, Abia State University, Uturu, and the ongoing strike by ASUU are as a result of lack of commitment of this generation.
Bishop Onuoha who was reacting to the news of the de-accreditation of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, over 30 months of salary arrears owed workers, said if authorities saddled with the responsibility of seeing to the welfare of workers make it a point of duty, it wouldn’t have gotten to this deplorable state.
The Co-chair Interfaith Dialogue Forum said it is worrisome that a citadel of learning that has produced eminent Nigerians scattered all over the World, could have her accreditation status withdrawn due to the negligence of those who should cater to the needs of workers and lecturers in Abia Poly, stressing that what is paramount at this time is to find a way to offset the backlog of salaries owed workers of the institution and pray that the accreditation status is restored.
In his word, “It is regrettable that a great citadel of learning like Abia Poly will lose accreditation due to the insensitivity of all of us. All these issues have been raised over time concerning the decadence in critical sectors. We should take responsibility and shun apportioning blames or shifting responsibilities.
The ADC Governorship candidate also decried the loss of accreditation by the College of Medicine Abia State University, Uturu, while attributing it to the insensitivity of those at the helm of affairs.
Bishop Onuoha advised the Abia State Government to, as a matter of urgency and for restoration of the future of Abia Poly Students and that of College of Medicine, act fast by offsetting the salaries of these workers which caused this de-accreditation
He pointed out that the insensitivity is also responsible for the continued stay at home of Students of Nigerian Universities, stating that it is uncivilized for Students and Lecturers of Government-owned institutions in the country to remain at home for close to 6 months, adding that these issues stem from the failure of the society including Government to nip the issues in the bud.
The Methodist Bishop said, ” How can we be insensitive to the extent of not recognizing the threats the society is faced with, due to the continued stay of our children at home. Have we lost touch with the saying that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop? How can authorities turn a blind eye to the dangers posed by these young Nigerians even as we approach the electioneering period”?
He said the claim that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is making an outrageous demand, cannot be true, advising Federal Government to act fast to revive the education sector, stressing that students are already aligning with societal ills.
Bishop Onuoha who urged the Government at all levels to take responsibility for the deplorable State of affairs in the country warned that the education sector is seating on a keg of gunpowder if authorities continue to pay lip service to the issue of ASUU, Abia Poly, College of Medicine, Abia State University, Uturu, among other contentious issues.
