The Nation Newspaper

Tag: College of Education

  • Tertiary institutions begin indefinite strike in Nasarawa

    State-owned tertiary institutions in Nasarawa have embarked on an indefinite strike, citing government’s refusal to address welfare-related issues.

    Institutions involved in the action included the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and the Nasarawa State, Polytechnic, Lafia.

    The workers, under the aegis of the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions (JUTI), told newsmen on Wednesday in Lafia that they had exhausted avenues toward an amicable resolution of the dispute and were left with no alternative.

    According to Mr Samuel Bashayi, chairman of the state’s chapter of JUTI, the workers resolved to shut down the institutions at a meeting held at the State Polytechnic, Lafia, on Tuesday, April 4.

    He said that the state government had been “very insensitive” to the plight of the workers and had equally failed to address issues impeding effective service delivery.

    “The government has also failed to implement agreements reached between the workers and the government, through the Governing Councils of the institutions,” he added.

    He regretted that the union’s repeated notices were ignored, and listed key areas of concern to include promotion, annual increment, arrears, among others.

    “Instead of paying our allowances, government has chosen to dare us by removing even the allowances we used to take for granted,” he said.

    Bashayi advised workers to remain at home and await further directives.

    Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who went round the three affected institutions, met the gates locked in full compliance.

     

  • College of Education gets 90-day ultimatum to be accredited

    College of Education gets 90-day ultimatum to be accredited

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has directed management of the College of Education, Igueben, Igueben Local Government, to get the institution ready for  accreditation within 90 days.

    Obaseki gave the order yesterday after assessing facilities at the institution.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the governor inspected projects beng sponsored by the school as well as those by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

    The governor, who decried the infrastructure decay, directed the Provost, Prof. Matthew Omo Ojugo and other management staff to reposition the college.

    He said: “We must get accreditation for this school within 90 days. Mr. Provost, if we do not have accreditation by that time, then you cannot be a provost anymore.

    “So it is now your responsibility that we obtain accreditation for this school.”

    The governor directed the provost to do an audit of projects executed by TETFund and those by the school.

    Obaseki promised his administration’s support towards tackling their challenges in infrastructure, payment of salaries and arrears and proper funding of the school.

    He ordered a forensic audit of the institution’s account.

    Prof. Omo Ojugo pledged to reposition the institution before the expiration of the ultimatum.

    Governor Obaseki has visited the Amahor waterside in Igueben Local Government to ascertain the tourism potential of the two rivers which formed a confluence there.

    The governor also visited the rest house used by colonial masters.

    Obaseki noted that when developed, the area will boost economic activities by drawing tourist attraction to the natural wonder of the rivers that do not mix.

    He said the government would identify economic opportunities and landmarks available for economic activities.

    “We understand that we have a lot of landmarks and space here. Most importantly, we came here to appreciate nature and begin to direct interest to places like this so that people can come here to relax and appreciate nature,” he said.

  • Akwa Ibom Assembly reinstates sacked lecturers

    The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution, authorising the reinstatement of 11 lecturers wrongfully disengaged by the College of Education, Afaha Nsit, in 2013.

    The motion was moved by the House Leader, Mr. Udo Akpan, and seconded by the Chief Whip, Mr. Emmanuel Ekpenyong.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the House had earlier referred the petitions from the affected lecturers to the House Committee on Education.

    The committee recommended that the House should order for immediate reinstatement of the affected lecturers back to their different departments.

    The committee also requested the House to direct relevant authority that handled the biometric in the college to correct the error and reconfigure the names of the affected lecturers as academic staff and not as non-academic staff.

    The committee also directed that the affected lecturers be promoted as and when due, and their entitlements paid accordingly.

    All the recommendations were adopted and a resolution passed accordingly.

    The Speaker, Mr. Onofiok Luke, directed the Clerk, Mrs. Mandu Umoren, to communicate the House resolution to relevant authority for action.

     

  • Give us college of education, monarch urges Mimiko

    Give us college of education, monarch urges Mimiko

    The traditional ruler of Alade-Idanre in Ondo State, Oba Olusegun Ayodele Akinbola, the Aladeokun of Alade-Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State, has urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to establish a college of education in his domain.

    The monarch made the appeal while celebrating his 21st coronation anniversary in Aladeokun palace, Alade-Idanre.

    He said the journey has not been so easy in the past 21 years of his ascendancy to his ancestor’s throne.

    He, however, noted that “like lightening, the years have come and gone with their attendant vicissitudes”.

    Oba Akinbola said: “About four years ago, Governor Mimiko laid the foundation that would transform Alade Market into a regional one. We appeal to the governor to speed up the completion of the market and inaugurate it before the expiration of his tenure.”

    He thanked his community for giving him the opportunity to serve them.

    Recalling how he ascended the throne in 2005, Oba Akinbola, who was a lecturer at the Department of Dramatic Arts of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife Osun State (formerly University of Ife), said he was on sabbatical leave when he received a letter of appointment as a monarch in his community, saying he did not lobby for the royal position.

    “I was on sabbatical leave preparing to go to the United States of America (USA) when I got a letter of appointment  as a monarch in my community without lobbying for the royal position,” he said.

    According to him, Alade-Idanre town is one of the communities that make up Idanre Kingdom, which is  one of the major kingdoms in Ondo State.

    He revealed that the town was founded in 1928, but with a special characteristic of being a religious community in which all the indigenes are Christians.

    Oba Akinbola said Alade-Idanre is a distinct town with its history, culture and tradition.

    He revealed that the town was founded in 1928,  adding that the community is one in which majority of the indigenes are mainly Christians. Interestingly, the founder of the town was a prominent Christian leader.

    There are no mosques or any other traditional worship centres.

    The town links Akure, the Ondo State capital with Idanre where the popular Idanre Hill is located.

    Oba Akinbola said there was serious crisis between Christians and Muslims at Oke-Idanre town after which the town was founded by the late Pa John Akinbola, who was his grandfather.

    According to him, the people of Alade were living in Oke-Idanre before the crisis between Muslims and Christians. The Christians agreed to vacate the town and look for a new settlement, hence their movement to the present day Alade town.

    “My grandfather, who was a prominent Christian leader, then suggested that Christians should vacate the town for the Muslims and he led them to where we are now.

    “The name Alade was given to it because that was the name of the market our people left behind at Oke-Idanre and they felt the town should be named after the market.

    “After the town was founded, the late Bishop S. C. Phillips of the Anglican Communion was invited to pray over the town and he laid the foundation of the palace of the town. Those who were Christians were coming from different parts of Idanre land and today we have a fairly big population and we relate as brothers and sisters because of our common religion.

    “Bishop Vinning was later invited to organise the town. So, we can say that the town was set up by two renowned Anglican Priests.

    “Although there were attempts to introduce new religion by those who later came to join us in recent time, we did not encourage their idea because we have a history which we need to protect. We practice Christianity and we are known for that.”

    He said it was Bishop Phillips who formally pronounced the location of the town and made all necessary arrangements for its recognition by all agencies of government, adding that the traditional ruler of the town now has a prescribed authority within his domain like other traditional rulers in Yoruba land. Indigenes of Alade are predominantly farmers and traders.

    Oba Akinbola said the first set of settlers in the town facilitated the founding of markets and schools, adding that he had also facilitated the establishment of schools and medical centres.

    He revealed that prominent indigenes of the town are making efforts to facilitate the establishment of a tertiary institution in the town in order to boost its economy.

    Oba Akinbola said: “In the past 21 years of my reign, Alade town has transformed from the insignificant town it was to a large one populated by strangers who reside in it because of its peace and hospitality.”

    He said:  “The state and Federal Governments should make their impacts felt in the town through provision of infrastructural facilities to enhance the living condition of the people.”

    At the occasion, cultural dancers entertained guests that included traditional rulers among who were Owa of Idanre land, Oba Fredrick Aroloye, Deji of Akure land, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo and Oba Francis Omokanjuola Apata, the Olupe of Ipe-Akoko, among others.

    Governor Mimiko was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Dr Kola Ademujimi, while the Chairman/Chief launcher of the day, Segun Oni, the former Ekiti State Governor was represented by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State, Mr Taiwo Olatubosun.

  • No plan to retrench workers – Aregbesola

    No plan to retrench workers – Aregbesola

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state on Friday said the ongoing restructuring and reforms in all the state-owned tertiary institutions were not aimed at retrenching workers as being speculated.

    Aregbesola said this at the inauguration of a N140 million e-Library and N34.4 million ultra-modern lecture hall at the state College of Education, Ila-Orangun.

    The governor, who described the speculation as baseless, said the idea behind the restructuring exercise was not to witch-hunt but to improve the quality of lecturers.

    He said his administration would not do anything that would inflict pains on workers and residents of the state.

    “The restructuring is aimed at bringing up the quality of the lecturers.

    “ I must also add that the government has no intention of witch-hunting or victimising anyone for his or her religious, political or ideological leaning.

    “You will all agree that there have been many innovations in education and those still teaching with the knowledge they acquired 20 years ago have fallen behind time.

    “We must also improve the quality of our teachers, if we want to improve the quality of education we are giving to the young ones.

    “This puts to rest the false, unfounded and malicious speculation that the government is closing down these schools.

    “What we are trying to do is to ensure everyone is qualified and fits into the bigger picture of the education we are providing in the state,” he said.

    In his address, the Provost of the institution, Prof. Isaac Olayinka Oyewole, said that the new library would accommodate 2,000 users at a time.

    Oyewole said with the new e-library, the institution could conveniently boast of housing a modern digital library unit.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr Niyi Akande, said the council was working toward transforming the college into a degree awarding institution.

  • N1.5b cash scandal rocks College of Education

    N1.5b cash scandal rocks College of Education

    Some top workers at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos have been sent on compulsory leave by the Governing Council following allegations of financial recklessness. The workers are divided over the matter.  Some are alleging “witch hunt”; while others believe the council is treading the right path. ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA reports.  

    A N1.5billion cash scandal is rocking the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) in Oto/Ijanikin. Some principal officers have been sent on compulsory leave over the case by Governing Council chairman, Prof Tunde Samuel. They are alleged to have misappropriated N1.5billion.

    Those sent on leave are former Provost, Mr Bashorun Olalekan, who handed over last August, former Registrar, Mrs Bola Disu; Bursar, Mr Fatai Ipaye, Internal Auditor Mr Eluwande Nathaniel, and Bashorun’s Personal Assistant, Mr Mojeed Babatunde.

    The incumbent Registrar, Olumuyiwa Coker, and the bursar, Babatunde Oyewolu, were also sent on compulsory leave for their roles in the case.

    But workers are complaining about how the matter is being investigated.  Some are alleging that it is a  witch hunt of those involved. They disagreed with the inclusion of union members on the investigative panel set up by Prof Samuel.

    It all started in October 2014 when the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU); and the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) embarked on strike over the alleged non-remittance of pension arrears and cooperative contributions, misappropriation of funds, and lack of transparency.

    COEASU and SSUCOEN claimed that the Bashorun administration collected up to N1.5 billion yearly from the deductions with nothing to show for in the college’s development.  The unions appealed to the then Babatunde Fashola administration to investigate the allegation. In December, the former Fashola administration commissioned an audit committee that investigated the institution’s books.  But its report was not published.

    The matter resurfaced when Samuel became council chairman last September.  Following a petition by the unions, Samuel constituted a panel which included some COEASU and SSUCOEN executives.

    But NASU faulted their inclusion in the panel because they were the petitioners.  The workers were enraged that Samuel published some of the panel’s findings in the media when investigations had not been concluded.

    NASU Chairman, Comrade Femi Adebayo said the manner the panel went about the investigation was suspicious.

    “As the leader of NASU in AOCOED I was a part of all the meetings which held at the College and Alausa. But when it got to the final stage that the secretary of the panel was to collate all findings, I was not invited. The report was hijacked due to personal hatred. Even the secretary of that panel was sidelined. Let them produce the document and you will see that my signature was not there.

    “Although we discovered some irregularities that could be corrected, I made them to understand that no administration is perfect. But I realised there is a hidden agenda which the council is yet to inform us about.”

    Another source said: “The council  itself needs to be questioned. We are saying the College is broke yet the council since its inauguration in September has been sitting and collecting allowance. I learnt the council is organising a three-day retreat this week and will be using a prominent hotel in FESTAC. So who is deceiving who?”

    However, Samuel, in a phone chat, described those alleging witch hunt as “mischievous.”

    He said: “Some people have gone behind to say I am witch hunting them and I find that statement annoying. Is it a lie that somebody collected so-so amount? When you talk of witch hunting, that is when that thing cannot be put in the verifiability theory of meaning which says what cannot be seen cannot be said either. So those saying witch-hunt are mischievous.  What will council make from that?”

    Samuel added: “Some of these people shouting witch hunting have gone to town using some heavyweights to appeal to me. So I wonder why they are then begging me to forgive them if they are actually being witch hunted.  When I came on board, some members of council informed me of the existence of a cabal, and those shouting witch hunt belong to the cabal. I did not buy into this initially. At a point, the unions also wrote me that they were losing confidence in the council, so I had to act. Council ought to have acted long before now but we did not.”

    Chairmen of COEASU and SSUCOEN, Michael Avosentiyen and Wunmi Ombugadu debunked the claim of witch hunt, saying people should look at the allegations before casting aspersions on them. They denied being close to the council chairman.

    “I have never been to the council chairman’s house; I don’t even know the way to his house,” Ombugadu said.

    Avosetinyen said the panel’s findings have justified the unions’ agitations against the past management in the last three years.

    He said: “It has vindicated our unions.  I once accused the immediate past Special Adviser on Education that he was aiding and abetting the former management team because of what he was getting from them, otherwise how can we present an issue before you six times and you failed to act?

    “That statement that we are close to the council chairman is insulting and derogatory. It is as if saying the Governing Council chairman does not know what he was doing.

    “The question is: ‘Did those asked to proceed on compulsory leave do what they were accused of?’  For me, I can go to anywhere, and you need not read meanings into my movement. Forget personal issues and let’s address issues on ground. I don’t know where they got their information from.”

    Two of those sent on leave, who pleaded not to be named, described the panel as a sham.  They claimed that they were not invited by the panel for clarifications before the council queried them and asked them to proceed on leave.

    One of them said: “The council gave me a query that I should provide receipts for two conferences I attended in 2014. Although they (council) did not specify which of the conferences, I attached in my responses, all documents of the conferences I attended and submitted, only to be asked to proceed on compulsory leave. So, if I had fulfilled what the council requested of me, ask them why the suspension?”

    “We were not surprised at the outcome of the panel,” said the other. “How could you bring in the petitioners to be part of those to investigate us. Can you be the complainant and the judge at the same time?”

    Samuel promised that the investigation would be fair.

    “I can assure you that we (council) will go the whole hog. We cannot just indict anybody without establishing fact. It is not possible,” he said.

    The Government and AOCOED management on Monday appealed to the parties to  sheathe their swords and work for the institution’s progress.

    Speaking on the crisis, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, Special Aassistant to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Education, told our reporter on phone that the council has the government’s backing provided it does what is right.

    “The Governing Council has the full backing of government to do its investigation and take necessary action. Anybody that  is found guilty should be made to face the music. This government is committed to probity. Do not forget that the governor is a former Accountant-General of Lagos State who is also passionate about prudence. But we also want due process since those complained about are still under investigation,” Bank-Olemoh said.

    On the institution’s complaints of underfunding, Bank-Olemoh said there would be a raise in its subventions from next month.

    “Government has decided that as from May, monthly subventions of all our institutions would be increased so that they can now use their Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) to meet other liabilities.

    “As government, we shall, through monitoring, ensure that the IGR is judiciously used.  All the unions and other stakeholders will be involved in the monitoring and inform us in case anything goes wrong.”

  • College matriculates new students

    The provost College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Dr Mojisola Oyarekua has charged students of the College to exhibit high level of discipline and shun acts that could derail their future.
    The Provost while speaking at the 2015/26 matriculation into the NCE program urged the students to be prompt in their registration exercise saying it confers on them certain rights and privileges on the campus.
    She advised the students to steer clear of cultism,indecent dressing and examination malpractice which she described as the three major vices that attract strict punishment.
    She disclosed that the college management is working assiduously to come up with a number of programmes that will equip students with various entrepreneurship
    skills that will enable them to become employers of labour rather than job seekers upon graduation.
    Earlier the College Registrar, Mr Gbenga Ojo had administered the matriculation oath on about One thousand students admitted for the 2015/16 NCE programme.
    They promised to adhere to the rules guiding their stay on the campus.

  • NCCE shuts illegal college of education in Gombe 

    NCCE shuts illegal college of education in Gombe 

    The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has shut down Lakwanjang College of Education and Entrepreneurship, Kaltungo, Gombe State.

    The NCCE said that the college had been operating illegally in the State for over two years.

    The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Monday Joshua, who led a crack team from the NCCE Headquarters, Abuja to raid the institution, said the college was operating from a ramshackle primary school in the State.

    According to him, information got to the management of the commission that an institution in Kaltungo, was running Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) illegally.

    Prof. Joshua said that the institution had advertised for and admitted unsuspecting students for two academic sessions without any involvement of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    He warned the students of the college that any certificates obtained from the illegal programmes would not be recognized in Nigeria.

    According to a statement on Thursday in Abuja endorsed by the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Mallam Garba Sulieman, said that the team from NCCE to close down the illegal college of education was surprised to learn from the students that the college conducted classes only in the evenings in the premises of a primary school at the Nasarawa area of Kaltungo town.

    The college had claimed through an advertisement that it offered NCE programmes in Primary Education Studies, Biology, Islamic Religion studies, Christian Religion Studies, Hausa Language, Mathematics, Computer studies, Business Education, Economics, Social Studies, Arabic Medium and NCE in English.

    The statement said that the NCCE boss on discovering the existence of the college ordered its immediate shutdown for alleged breach of the laws for the establishment of Colleges of Education in Nigeria as contained in the Act establishing the Commission.

    The management of the commission, according to the statement, has commenced necessary action to prosecute the promoters of the illegal institution.

    The Statement said: “The attention of NCCE had earlier been drawn to unconfirmed information that an institution existed in Kaltungo, illegally running NCE programme.

    “The management of NCCE consequently put up a team to investigate the institution based on the information obtained.

    “On Friday, 22nd January, 2016, the team from NCCE led by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, including Heads of Academic programmes Department and other senior staff of the Commission, visited the College on facts finding.

    “The College has operated illegally, purportedly training NCE teachers for the past two academic sessions, without recourse to the extant laws that should cover its establishment and operation.

    “The said Lakwanjang College of Education and Entrepreneurship, Kaltungo, is hereby closed down with immediate effect. The students and parents of the said College and the general public are to note that the NCE programmes purportedly run in the College have never been accredited and the College had never obtained approval to run the programmes.

    “Any certificates that will arise from such illegal programmes will not be recognized in Nigeria. This action is taken based on the mandate of NCCE, and also to save teacher education in Nigeria from further ridicule.”

     

  • Ondo College staff found dead in her room

    Ondo College staff found dead in her room

    A staff of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) in Ondo west local government area of Ondo State, Miss Evelyn Ajagun has been reportedly found dead in her apartment at Palmgroove street, Oka in Ondo town.

    Sources informed The Nation that the middle age woman, whose remains was discovered at the weekend by her neigbours was already decomposed.

    It was learnt that Evelyn’s neigbour were forced to open her door when a strange odour was traced to her apartment.

    One of the College’s students, who is a neigbour to the deceased but who spoke under anonymity said the last time they saw Evelyn was last Tuesday.

    She noted that the circumstances surrounding her death still remained a misery to them.

    But, the‎ DPO in charge of Enu Owa Division in Ondo, CSP Adekunle Omisakin said preliminary investigation revealed that Evelyn was probably sick, locked up herself until she died having had nobody to attend to her.

    He said the unfortunate incident happened because Evelyn’s neighbour were students who had traveled home for the new year break and only found her corpse upon returning to town at the weekend.

    Omisakin said the remains of Evelyn have been evacuated to the Ondo General Hospital morgue while investigation is still ongoing on the matter.

  • Lecturer sacked for ‘academic fraud’

    Authorities at the College of Education, Akamkpa, Cross River, have sacked one lecturer for academic malpractice.

    Four others are being investigated for the same offence.

    Also, four students of the college are currently standing trial for impersonation.

    The college provost, Dr. James Ejue, who disclosed this at a press conference in Calabar on Friday, said the move was in line with the college’s zero tolerance for malpractices.

    His words, “One lecturer has already lost his job because he was caught extorting money from students and four others are already undergoing investigation. We are following proceedings and if found guilty they will be shown the way out.”

    Ejue also promised to give full sponsorship to first 10 academic staff of the college who get admission into universities abroad, adding that the essence is to ensure effective staff training and development.

    The provost added that plans are underway to establish a department of Chinese language in the college next year.