• Orders ex-administrative secretary to refund N55.1m
From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, yesterday, inaugurated a six-man committee for the implementation of a report of inquiry into the accounts, management practices, and staff conduct at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT).
Inaugurating the Committee which has Edwin Nwobodo as the chairman and Judy Nweke, a representative of the civil society organisations, as the secretary, at the Government House, Mbah said the IMT was fashioned after the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA, but lamented the state polytechnic had since derailed.
He, however, vowed to restore the institution’s past glory, while also insisting the mode of operation at IMT must change through the work of the committee for the restoration to be possible.
Other members of the committee are; Sylvanus Ogbodo, representing the Ministry of Education, Chinenye Ozoagu, Obiamaka Egbo and Moses Otiji.
The governor had, after receiving the report of the committee the government had earlier set up to investigate the state of affairs in IMT, ordered that a former administrative secretary, Basil Offoh, retire or refund within two weeks N55.1 million he collected between 2008 and 2010 as advances to execute various official assignments for the school.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, who represented Governor Mbah while recalling that the government had earlier set up a committee that investigated the state of affairs of the institution, 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.
The terms of reference of the committee, according to him, 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 unauthorised charges on students while revising fee structures.
To standardise staff appointments, prioritise competency-based hires, and enforce compliance with IMT law. Enhance revenue generation through internal controls, centralisation of collections, and improved financial management. Address undue financial demands on students, improve financial accountability, and ensure transparency and implement various improvements in areas like staff employment, admissions, procurement, and library facilities.”
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.
Nwobodo pledged the readiness of the committee to deliver on its mandate with every sense of rectitude and fear of God saying: “We will work with integrity, and, if you like, the fear of God. We will, as it were, start immediately, and I can promise we will not only give you a midterm report, but also periodic reports as may be necessary.
“We hope we’ll continue to receive cooperation from the management that will be working with us and it is unique to have them sit here when this inauguration happens.”
IMT Rector, 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.