- A Call To Rescue The Institution From Decadence
The concerned staff, students and stakeholders of Kogi State College of Education (Technical) Kabba, have called on His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, to beam his searchlight on the activities of the Provost of the College, Mrs Victoria Jagboro, so as to save the Institution from decadence.
Some of the staff, students and stakeholders of the college, who spoke to us in separate interviews, expressed their displeasure on the overbearing and arbitrary manner in which the Provost, Mrs Jagboro, has been running the Institution.
They noted that Mrs. Victoria Jagboro, was a retired nurse with questionable C.V., who according to them, had been fighting tooth and nails to continue to sustain her second tenure as the Provost of Kogi State College of Education (Technical) Kabba.
They added that as a retired nurse she was never qualified in the first instance to be appointed as the Provost of a College of Education because the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) had directed that those without Ph.D should not head any institution of this status.
”We are also aware of the requirements of the NCCE minimum standard for the appointment of a Provost. This include among others:
”Be a Chief Lecturer of at least five (5) years cognate experience. Not be more than 55 years at the time of assumption of duty.
”Must have education qualification plus Ph.D degree in one of the subjects taught at NCE programme. For a Technical college, such qualification must be in the area of Science or Vocational/Technical Education.
”Have evidence of academic and administrative leadership. Have evidence of professional Standing honours, be proficient in ICT packages and capacities, and possessed evidence of Community Services.
”It is therefore, a misnomer of monumental dimension for a retired nurse without any proof of a Higher educational qualification to remain as provost in this school, even the so-called Master’s Degree remained questionable.”
They, therefore urged His Excellency to revoke the reappointment of Mrs. Jagboro, as they have many PH.D holders in Okunland from whose pool His Excellency could pick anybody of his choice.
Some of the staff of the college who spoke to our Correspondent on condition of anonymity, said: ”we are not unaware that Mrs. Jagboro has been avoiding the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) due to a forged Masters Degree.
”Because of her, two departments created by a past Provost have not been accredited by the NCCE even after graduating five sets of students in these courses.
”We want the Governor to save the College of Education (Technical) Kabba from Mrs. Jagboro because the school is losing too many students because of her inexperience and overbearing attitude.
”The number of students in the college have drastically reduced to less than 600 students because prospective students are scared of attending the school due to their unaccredited courses by NCCE.
”Aside the accreditation issue, the school is usually in total darkness at nights because of lack of Electricity supply due to the huge debt the school is owing AEDC, and no provision has been made for power generators which has made many students to move away from the hostel due to insecurity”.
On the issue of the recent appointment of the Principal Officers at the College, the Respondents insisted that the exercise did not follow due process as specified by the regulatory body, NCCE in its Schemes of Service.
According to them, none of the officers appointed possesses the requisite cognate experience of 18 and 21 years as specified in the Schemes of Service.
”The principal officers did not possess required professional qualifications, none of them possessed Master’s Degree as required for the positions. The newly appointed Director of Works and Services, has been on uncleared list for almost 2 years”.
They stressed that Mrs Jagboro herself, did not merit her position as Provost due her qualification, saying she was afraid of been replaced by more qualified persons who could bring development to the school with their wealth of experiences, and could also invite people from NCCE headquarters for accreditation.
He stressed that Mrs Jagboro had been running away from accreditation because of her non qualification, despite graduating 5 set without a single accreditation of their courses.
”It cannot be done where retired nurse is a provost and Doctors are watching.
”We are also questioning the frequent visit of Mrs Jagboro to the SSG office as her second home instead of staying at her duty post.
”We are not unaware that because of her inferiority complex, the Provost told the SSG to capitalize on zoning arrangements which will help them to drop some of the hardworking senior staff who are more than qualified for those posts.
”We are surprised that the SSG we so much revered eventually danced to the tune of the provost and also gave her free hand to select anybody she feels she could work with.
”Furthermore, in other to humiliate and frustrate the senior staff who are most qualified for the positions of Bursar, Registrar, and Director of Works, the provost suggested the names of people that are working under them to take over from them.
”These various principal positions are very sensitive that should not be taken for granted, but it is so unfortunate that even the new registrar could not handle a single assignment without seeking for help.
”Just in a hurry to get everything done, the Provost also appointed a Bursar that has not honored the appointment uptil now. She also appointed a director of works that still has pending issue with screening committee.
”Just because the provost feels secured with their qualifications, she is happy!
”All this were carried out between the SSG and the Provost which were not opened to The Chief of Staff to the Governor, and His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello, who believes so much in competence and unity of our state irrespective of your tribes.
”We are calling on the appropriate authority to look into Injustice perpetrated against all the qualified senior staff for the principal officers.
”For instance, the immediate past acting registrar of the college, who served for good five years as a registrar in acting capacity, but was denied of his entitlements and benefits.
”As a very hard working Staff he used his personal money to finance some of his official assignments. The host community could testify to his efforts to lift the School to a greater level.
”It is so unfortunate that a retired nurse who is not qualified by all standerd to be a provost of any college of education in Nigeria, could be given opportunity to single handedly select anybody she can work with.
”In a hurry to perfect her selection, she suggested the name of director of works who has pending issue with screening committee, and the name of a Registrar that have not attained the years of experience and qualifications needed for the position.
”With all this anomalies, it will be very difficult for the regulatory body to upgrade the school. His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello that I know will never reward hardwork with Injustice”.
The respondents, therefore urged the Kogi Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, the Governor and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to as a matter of urgency to conduct an independent investigation into all the allegations levelled against the Provost to ascertain the truth of the matter, and ensured that justice prevailed.
– Ajayi Enitan wrote from Kabba.
