A legal practitioner, Barrister George Ojimadu, has charged Abia state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, to “look into the corruption in the education sector of the state” by reshuffling his cabinet.
He said that there is an ongoing extortion of students and unaccounted funds in different ministries, “as a result of wrong postings and people doing everything possible to stay in different positions, because of the money they are making therefrom”.
In a statement made available to Blueprint Weekend in Abuja Friday, Ojimadu said that a lot of ministries are not functioning optimally in the state and that “only a timely intervention by the state governor will curb the menace.”
He said: “It was like drama when Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu emerged as governor of Abia state. When people asked, they were told that he was a university lecturer and was going to deliver. However, from 2015 till 2019, a lot has happened in the politics of Abia, beginning from road construction and appointment of commissioners to different ministries and other appointments.
“I would say that Governor Ikpeazu has done his bit, but what is happening at Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA), the mouthpiece of Abia politics, is rather discouraging. The television and radio no longer function optimally, while the privately owned stations are waxing stronger. What about Abia State Environmental Protection Board (ASEPA)? Who will go in now as the general manager?
“Even the Honourable Commissioner (legal) Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji, who commissioned Ministry of Education, abandoned the true functions and responsibilities charged by the federal government to Ministry of Education (MoE) and is going about formulating laws, bringing about divisions in the MoE and Examination Development Centres (EDC); creating area offices here and there, filling the positions with people in the name of conversion.
“In a nutshell, my humble suggestions are: Do not sign the EDC Autonomy Bill into law; It is not found in any other state in Nigeria. Also, leave the area offices the way they are functioning and encourage them to work harder. The new permanent secretary posted should follow due process in giving approvals. Again, Mrs Juliet Orji, who was made a permanent secretary while serving at EDC as a director, should be posted out to HoS; where newly Perm Secs begin. Lastly, give BCA a facelift.”
