…Bans undue pressure on students

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has inaugurated the Committee for the Implementation of Report of Enquiry into the Accounts, Management Practices, and Staff Conduct at the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu.

Noting that the IMT was fashioned after the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA, but had since derailed, Mbah vowed to restore the institution’s past glory, while also insisting that the mode of operation at IMT must change through the work of the committee for this to be possible.

The six-man panel, which has Prof. Ed Nwobodo as the Chairman and Judy Nweke, a representative of the Civil Society Organisations, as the Secretary, also has Sylvanus Ogbodo, representing the Ministry of Education, Chinenye Ozoagu, Prof. Obiamaka Egbo, and Dr. Moses Otiji as members.

Inaugurating the Committee at the Government House, Enugu, on Monday, the Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, recalled that the government had earlier set up a committee to investigate the state of affairs in IMT.

He said the present committee would ensure the implementation of the previous panel’s report and directed the IMT management to cooperate with the implementation committee to achieve the desired result.

“I have invited the management of IMT to hear directly from the government and to understand that the committee that has been set up must have unfettered access to whatever documents that they may need to make sure that they do their work effectively in six-week time. This is very critical.

“The work of this committee is very important because higher education will play a pivotal role in the capacity and legacy that we are planning to leave behind at the end of the time. All of us must work as a team to ensure that our state regains its glory across all the ecosystem – education, infrastructure, environment, sports, among others”, he stated.

He said the terms of reference of the committee were: “to evaluate and amend the legal and policy framework governing IMT’s Business Committee functions to align with best practices.

“Eliminate third-party fees and unauthorises charges on students while revising fee structures.

“Standadise staff appointments, prioritise competency-based hires, and enforce compliance with IMT law.

“Enhance revenue generation through internal controls, centralization of collections, and improved financial management

“Address undue financial demands on students, improve financial accountability, and ensure transparency.

“Implement various improvements in areas like staff employment, admissions, procurement, and library facilities”.

Responding, the Chairman of committee, Prof. Nwobodo, pledged the readiness of the committee to deliver on its mandate with every sense of rectitude and fear of God.

“We will work with integrity, and, if you like, the fear of God. We will, as it were, start immediately, and I can promise that we will not only give you a midterm report, but also periodic reports as may be necessary.

“We hope that we’ll continue to receive cooperation from the management, who will be working with us and it is unique to have them sit here when this inauguration happened”, he stated.

In the meantime, the government has directed that the collection of revenue through third parties, sale of handouts of any kind, undue pressure on students through multifarious levies and fees as well as employment without strict adherence to meritocracy must cease forthwith.

On his part, the Rector of IMT, Prof. Austin Nweze, assured the government that the management would accord the committee all the needed cooperation to deliver on its mandate for the good of the institution.