Crises are rocking the Federal College of Agriculture Isiagu, Abonyi State over alleged arbitrary transfers and suspension of some senior staff of the institution by the ExecutiveSecretary.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Both the registrar and the procurement officer were sent on indefinite suspension without cause while several other staff were randomly transferred out of their departments.
The Joint Action Union (JAC) claims the suspensions were unjust and demands intervention from the Honourable Minister for Agriculture to avoid further escalation of the crisis which has already grounded activities at the college.
“The Governing Board, The Minister of Agriculture, and the Presidency should call the Executive Secretary to order. The transferred staff have no disciplinary actions against them – no sexual harassment to people’s wives and students, misconduct, or any wrongdoing,” the protesters emphasized.
The protesters also alleged that acting Provost Dr. Jonah Nwawuisi has abdicated responsibilities to cronies, leading to embezzlement and inefficiency. They carried placards with messages like “Stooges have hijacked the provost’s duties” and “Enough of corruption in FECAI”.
The staff petitioned the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and ARCN to withdraw the letters and threatened to mobilize other agencies to protest if demands aren’t met. They alleged contractor Nicholas Agha masterminded the transfer of the Registrar and Procurement Officer, who had issues with him over job allocations.
A staff member told Ikoro Global TV that Agha, a contractor and consultant, was allegedly frustrating the institution’s domiciled jobs attracted by National Assembly members if the jobs aren’t grabbed by him.
The protesters accuse Agha of conniving with ARCN’s Executive Secretary to issue illegal transfer letters. They’re demanding Nicholas Agha come to Ishiagu to explain his job designation in FCAI – whether he’s a consultant, contractor, and Procurement Officer all at the same time.
The Union questions the Executive Secretary’s actions, citing the Bureau of Public Procurement mandate that restricts CEOs from indiscriminate posting of Procurement Officers. They allege the Secretary acted ultra vires in signing the transfer letters.
The Union alleges the Executive Secretary denied the Procurement Officer and the Registrar access and ignored pleas from other Directors to listen to them. They demand answers on the “order from above” that led to the transfer without due process.
The Union has locked the Provost’s office, demanding answers to all the alleged illegalities and corruption in FCAI. They call on the Executive Secretary to respect the Council’s integrity and the Minister of Agriculture and the Presidency to intervene.
Onyiba Shepherdman Iyioku reporting for Ikoro Global TV