CHRAN urges AKSG to upgrade COE, wants management, union to close ranks

An internationally recognised good governance advocacy group in Nigeria, the center for Human Rights and Advocacy Network (CHRAN), has called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to review the law establishing the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to upgrade the college to the status of a university.

The CHRAN made this call through its Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, during an advocacy visit to the College on Thursday, 29 February 2024.

The CHRAN expressed concern that the College, established in October 1990, has been losing its student population to Universities over the years as parents seem to prefer a University that offers a four-year degree programme to the College where students enrol for a three-year National Certificate of Education (NCE) programme.

The CHRAN noted that though section 2(c) of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education Law, Cap. 31, Vol. 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022 empowers the College to award degrees, that can only be done in affiliation with a University, as can be gleaned from section 4(2)(c) of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education Law, which makes the Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Uyo a statutory member of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education Council.

The CHRAN commended the Provost, Prof. Daniel Udo, and the management of the College for the relative peace enjoyed in the institution.

The CHRAN stated that it was involved at some point in efforts to resolve the dispute between the management of the College and the trade union in 2022/2023, which arose from the suspension of some union leaders on account of their activities in the College.

Franklyn thanked the Provost for resolving the dispute and paying the affected unionists their salaries as was directed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

“We call on the unionists to close ranks with the College management to facilitate the realisation of the mission and objectives of the College, maintaining that no progress can be achieved in an environment filled with rancour, acrimony and malice.

“We decry the lack of a master plan for the college, observing that developments are being carried out haphazardly and indiscriminately in the college due to the absence of a master plan.

“The center decries the very poor state of internal roads in the College and called on the State government to, as a matter of urgency, construct internal roads in the College.

“We also observe that the college has no perimeter fence, which makes the college vulnerable to attacks, theft, vandalism and encroachment.

“We make a case for a steady electric power supply to the College to aid students and facilities in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Department, which is currently relying solely on solar power,” Franklyn said.

He added that the center offers to partner with the college in the area of advocacy.

Responding, the Provost of the College, Prof. Daniel Udo, thanked the CHRAN delegation for the visit, saying that he has worked concertedly towards ensuring a peaceful and safe environment for learning in the College since his assumption of office as Provost.

He thanked the State Government for providing funds for the College, which has facilitated the successful accreditation of all NCE programmes and ten (10) out of eleven (11) degree programmes.

He commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for several infrastructural interventions in the College. Even so, the provost called for increased intervention and funding.

He stated that working with stakeholders, including the host communities, he has curtailed cultism even as the Students Union Government is enhanced to function optimally.

He stated that the college has discharged admirably its corporate social responsibility to the five villages constituting Afaha Nsit.

The Provost explained the misunderstanding that led to the face-off with the union leaders, saying that the matter had been resolved.

He stated that the national leadership of the union had sent a team to the College on a fact-finding mission, saying that the report of the team, which was communicated to the branch of the union in the College, was copied to him.

He noted that the national leadership absolved the College management of all the allegations levelled against the management by the branch unionists.

The provost stated that the national leadership faulted the branch unionists and directed them to take steps towards working amicably with the College management.

According to the Provost, the national leadership of the union cautioned the branch unionists to refrain from any attempt to operate a parallel management of the college.

The provost maintained that even though the branch unionists are yet to implement the directives of their national leadership, the College management under his leadership will continue to prioritise issues of staff welfare and improved work environment for workers, assuring that students of the institution will continue to enjoy good learning environment.

The CHRAN team was conducted around the facilities of the College by the Provost and management of the institution.

In the CHRAN team were: Otuekong Franklyn Isong, Director; Comrade (Barr.) Christopher Ekpo, Secretary; Comrade Michael Bassey, Comrade Banny Favour, and Comrade Theresa Daniel.

The College team included the Provost, Prof. Daniel Udo; Deputy Provost (Academics), Dr Jeremiah Iweh; Deputy Provost (Administration), Dr (Mrs) Edo Ekanem; the Registrar, Barr. Augustine Udoibit; Director of Works, Architect Anietie Ukpanah, and the Bursar, Dr Emmanuel Akpan.