COEASU raises alarm over impending  crisis at Benjamin Uwajumogu varsity, deplores poor management

In a statement signed by the COEASU Chairman in the college, Comrade Wilson Amandi, and Secretary, Rev. Fr. (Comrade) Benedict Amuchie, and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Tuesday, calling for the governor’s intervention, COEASU threatened industrial action within two weeks if the crisis is not resolved.

The union accused the Acting Provost Dr. Chinyere Nwachukwu of abuse of power and awarding contracts without due process, adding that she had been acting for 30 months but paid imprest for only five months to directors, deans, and Heads of Departments, who have been using their own money to prepare accreditation documents and logistics since March 2024  without reimbursement.

The provost was also accused of single-handedly procuring items and awarding TETFund contracts without the involvement of the academic deans and HODs or following due process.“She also awards TETFund contracts in the college without following the Procurement Act 2007 guidelines and has awarded over N1.5 billion in contracts without a Tender Board, which comprises academic deans and HODs,” the union claimed.

The union also said l Nwachukwu solely assessed TETFund for microteaching laboratory equipment without consulting the HOD of the relevant office.

It claimed that TETFund projects executed under her watch are poorly designed and implemented and do not align with the college’s development plan.

“The academic staff of the college is not considered in the scheme of activities, including project monitoring, which she conducts solely with the TETFund team,” the statement read in part.“The college’s neglect and abandonment of projects have made it unattractive to students.

“Rather than engage other management staff, the provost prefers to rely solely on the services of the acting registrar.

“Without any known offence, report, or directive from the governor, the provost wrote to the acting bursar, instructing him to hand over to a new appointee from the Imo Ministry of Housing Corporation.

“The union reminded the provost that the college is autonomous and not part of the ministry and therefore does not accept staff from any ministry.

“We also reminded her that the acting bursar’s appointment was a political one by the governing council of the college on behalf of the visitor to the college.

“In spite of our petitions, the provost not only proceeded with the appointment but also forced the acting bursar to hand over to the new bursar in a shocking manner that involved the police.

“Additionally, the provost does not respect the college organogram and disregards hierarchy in the administration, relegating senior academic staff.

“Following her failure to honor the invitation by the Chief of Staff for possible resolution of the crisis, the union may have no other option but to embark on industrial action,” the union threatened.

However, the provost described COEASU’s allegations as “baseless.”

She insisted that “all my actions are based on directives from the state government.”

Speaking in phone interview, Nwachukwu said the college  receives directives from the state government, which owns it.

“I take orders from them, and they direct me, especially on TETFund issues,” the provost explained.

“The college and other tertiary institutions in the state work with the Special Adviser to the Governor on TETFund Intervention and other services.

“So, I would not know why someone would claim that I execute all the TETFund projects alone when I cannot do anything without directives from the state government,” she noted.

On the issue of removing the acting bursar, Nwachukwu stated that since the college does not have a governing council, the Honorable Commissioner oversees the institution’s affairs.

“How can I be accused of removing an erring bursar who went as far as sending threatening messages to me?” she asked.