The Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University, Professor Chibuzor Ogbuagu, has stoutly debunked the rumour making the rounds that a certain governorship aspirant in the state paid one month salary arrears of staff of the institution.
Professor Ogbuagu who made the denial while fielding questions from journalists during a pre- convocation press conference, said that there was no iota of truth in the speculation, and enjoined members of the public to disregard it.
He however, admitted that one of the aspirants, Dr. Uche Ogah, had about three years ago, approached the management of the institution for a parcel of land to build an auditorium which he had since donated to the school.
The VC said payment of staff salary has been from only two sources – the state government, and the Internally Generated Revenue of the university.
He also denied speculations that lecturers and students were deserting the university in droves due to poor working condition and high school fees.
Professor Ogbuagu said that movement of lecturers from the university to other institutions was normal and not peculiar to ABSU.
He said that it was not strange to the university system for lecturers to move from one school to another, contending that himself had been to seven different universities as a lecturer.
His words: ” There is no brain drain in ABSU; what we have is normal flow of lecturers , and it allows for solid cross fertilization of ideas”.
The VC announced a downward review of tuition by 20 percent , saying that Medicine and Surgery students now pay N100,000 , while students of professional courses , and normal courses pay N90,000 and N80,000 respectively.
He said the reduction in fee was in response to appeals by students , and to make for competitive fairness.
The VC said management of the institution had zero tolerance for cultism and illegalities, disclosing that over seven lecturers including a Reverend Father had been dismissed due to some unwholesome acts.
On the proposed relocation of the Law faculty of the university to Umuahia, the VC said the policy was in line with the laws establishing the institution which made it ” a three- campus institution with branches in Aba and Umuahia, while Uturu is the main campus”.
He commended the state government for defraying the salary arrears of staff, as well as federal government for its financial supports through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
Punch
