Trade Unions in Ebonyi State College of Education, have appealed to Governor David Nweze Umahi, to convert the State College to Federal College of Education.
The Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions (JACTU), comprising of Colleges of Education Academic Stall Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), in their congratulatory message to the Governor on the recent approval for Federal College of Education in Ebonyi, described the approval as a prayer answered.
The statement was signed by Comrade Osmond S. Oboke, Chairman, COEASU & JACTU, Comrade Kenneth Nwokah, Chairman, SSUCOEN, and Comrade Chibuike Omoha, Chairman, NASU.
They recalled the Governor’s appeal on November 15, 2017 during President Mohammadu Buhari’s official visit to the State, for the conversion of the state College of Education, Ikwo, to Federal College of Education.
They maintained that the prayer was answered recently when Ebonyi was included among the States that will have federal government approved Federal College of Education.
“Like the Biblical David, God has always granted speedy answers to your request based on your good intentions for Ebonyians. Although, a few parochial Ebonyians may have wished that you did not make such request then, but as a leader with foresight, you did it believing that Ebonyians will gain more from it than lose anything, as millions of naira that go to the college on monthly basis as subvention can be channeled effectively into other infrastructural development projects in the state,” they stated.
The Unions also hinted that with the Federal Government Education Intervention Programme, (TETfund), that the college has recorded monumental achievements most especially in the area of infrastructural development.
While they make case for the state college to be upgraded to federal college, they reiterated that the permanent site of the college could be sited anywhere in the state.
“Notwithstanding where the permanent location will be, we cannot think of a new site for the take-off of the Federal College outside the current location of the state college. In other words, the permanent location of the Federal College after conversion can be anywhere in Ebonyi state.
“Today, as we celebrate the approval of the establishment of FCE in our fast growing state as desired by His Excellency, Engr. David Umahi, Ebonyians are convinced, optimistic and persuaded that you cannot afford to put the existing infrastructures in the College into waste by establishing additional college bearing in mind that the students enrollment capacity for the state owned one will be drastically affected to a worrisome level of less than 100 students population, based on federal factors such as prestige and high differential tuition fee in favour of the federal college,” they pointed out.
They further argued that Alvan Ikoku and Ehe-amufu Federal Colleges of Education were State colleges before they were taken over by the Federal Government.
The Unions also enumerated the advantages to include, reducing the financial burden on the state government, automatic absorption of all the workers of the college, more employment opportunities for Ebonyians among others, while the disadvantages include that State will no longer be in control, Chairman and members of the Governing Council, Provost and Principal Officers of the College will not be entirely from Ebonyi state.
Below is the statement:
His Excellency,
Engr. Chief (Dr.) David Nweze Umahi FNSE, FNATE
Executive Governor of Ebonyi State,
Government House,
Abakaliki.
Your Excellency Sir,
CONGRATULATIONS FOR A REQUEST GRANTED/APPEAL RE: APPROVAL ON ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (FCE) IN EBONYI STATE
The Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions (JACTU), comprising of the three Unions in Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo: Colleges of Education Academic Stall Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), on behalf of all our members and the entire college community heartily decided to use this medium to applaud you for your request that has been fulfilled today.
It is indeed a fulfillment of the scripture that “when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice… “(Proverbs 29: 2). Yes people rejoice partly because God answers every request borne out of good intention by such servant of His.
Recall, your Excellency, that during the official visit of Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, in Ebonyi State on 15th November, 2017, based on
your vision and mission of taking Teacher Education in the College of Education sub-sector to the next desired level in Ebonyi State, you requested among other things from Mr. President, the conversion of the State College of Education, Ikwo to Federal College of Education (FCE). Details of this are contained in “The Punch” of 15th November, 2017 under the caption “Buhari in Ebonyi, urges Igbo to Reject Secession Propaganda”.
Like the Biblical David, God has always granted speedy answers to your request based on your good intentions for Ebonyians. Although, a few parochial Ebonyians may have wished that you did not make such request then but as a leader with foresight, you did it believing that Ebonyians will gain more from it than lose anything, as millions of naira that go to the college on monthly basis as subvention can be channeled effectively into other infrastructural development projects in the state.
Courtesy of the TETfund (the Federal Government Educational Intervention Programme), the college has recorded monumental achievement most especially in the area of infrastructural development from 40% level it was before to 90% presently.
Undoubtedly, the college ranks first in the South East in terms of structural edifice. In that regard, Ebonyians and the entire Nigerians are aware that you are a refulgent example which many leaders of this age wish to copy from when it comes to eschewing wastage of public infrastructures. Therefore, notwithstanding where the permanent location will be, we cannot think of a new site for the take-off of the Federal College outside the current location of the state college. In other words, the permanent location of the Federal College after conversion can be anywhere in Ebonyi State.
Today as we celebrate the approval of the establishment of FCE in our fast growing state as desired by His Excellency, Engr. Chief (Dr) David Nweze Umahi, Ebonyians are convinced, optimistic and persuaded that you cannot afford to put the existing infrastructures in the College into waste by establishing additional college bearing in mind that the students’ enrollment capacity for the state owned one will be drastically affected to a worrisome level of less than 100 students population, based on federal factors such as prestige and high differential tuition fee in favour of the federal college.
Of course, recent researches have shown that colleges of Education in the country now serve the educational need of the host states as less than 5% of the students come from outside the host state. For instance, as close as FCE Ehe-amufu is to Ebonyi State, it will baffle one to hear that less than 2% of the student’s population are Ebonyians while far away Alvan Ikoku, Owerri has much less. Recall Your Excellency Sir that Alvan Ikoku and Ehe-amufu Federal Colleges of Education were all State colleges before they were taken over by the Federal Government.
Therefore, against the backdrop of the obvious reasons from the issues raised above, the three unions and the entire college community venerate-fully appeal to His Excellency to magnanimously give executive consideration to his earlier request for conversion of Ebonyi State college of Education Ikwo to Federal College of Education for the benefit of all Ebonyians based on its advantages that outweigh the disadvantages as stated below.
The Advantages:
1. The State Government will be relieved of the financial burden of budgeting for and maintaining a College of Education. This will help the government to focus more on other developmental projects she is carrying out for the masses.
2. Automatic absorption (inheritance) of all the workers of the college.
3. Upgrading the College to Federal one means more employment opportunities for Ebonyians. This is because the Federal Government has carrying capacity with “strong financial muscles”.
4. Many programmes that meet the educational needs of the populace will be established and maintained with ease.
5. Salary structures of the existing workers of the College will change to Federal structures.
6. Promotions of workers will be with financial effects not notional effects.
7. Gazzetting and Conditions of Service which the college is yet to enjoy will greet the new status if upgraded or converted to Federal College of Education.
8. The presence and ranking of the College will be felt better across the globe if she is in the hand of the federal government.
9. To cap it up, generally, the College will enjoy federal fiats if the status changes to federal; etc.
Seemingly Disadvantages
1 . State will no longer be in control.
2. Chairman and members of the Governing Council, Provost and Principal Officers of the College will not be entirely from Ebonyi State; etc.
Thank you for your anticipated approval, Your Excellency.
Yours sincerely,
Comr. Osmond S. Oboke Comr. Kenneth Nwokah
Chairman, COEASU & JACTU Chairman, SSUCOEN
08064508308 08036698717
Comr. Chibuike Omoha
Chairman, NASU 08068396944
