The days of some Lecturers and non-teaching staff of Abia state University, who engage in extortion, intimidation and harrassment of students in any form may have been numbered, following the new secret monitoring measures and declaration of operation zero tolerance for these evil activities in the University by the administration of the Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Onyemachi Maxwell Ogbulu
Addressing a meeting of SUG, SRC, Faculty Presidents and Course Representatives of the University, the Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Onyemachi M. Ogbulu, stated that this is a fight between evil and righteousness, hence students must join forces with the Management and senate, to bring concrete information against these bad eggs in the system perpetrating such wicked acts that tarnish the image of the University.
The students were urged to report to the office of the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, or other channels provided,
Any lecturer or staff that:
– Extort money from students to upgrade marks
– Compel students to buy textbooks directly from them without going through the bookshop, in order to pass tests, assignments or examination.
– Demand money from students to submit assignments, projects or for any other services like processing transcripts, certificates etc,
– Demand sex for grade, withhold results of students or engage in other forms of unwholesome acts to influence grades.
The administration under his watch, the Vice-Chancellor said, will ensure that any staff found guilty will be dismissed in accordance with the extant rules of the University, to serve as deterrent to others and assured of adequate protection to those who will volumteer information with accompanying evidence that will help curb these evil acts.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, whistle blowers have been deployed in different faculties and departments to monitor activities of suspected staff and course representatives identified to have been engaging in such evil acts in the University.
In their separate contributions, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Administration Professor Ogbonna Onuoha and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Academic, Professor G. I. N Emezue, reaffirmed the commitment of the management to fight this evil, but lamented the attitude of course representatives who connive with the oppressors to inflict pains on their fellow students.
The fears of some of the students who spoke on possible victimization from lecturers were allayed by the Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Onyemachi M. Ogbulu and the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, who extensively reassured the students of the measures already in place to protect them.
In a vote of thanks, the SUG President Comrade Ibeneme Chidera expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor and management for such intervention at this time and for the opportunity always made available to students to interact with them on issues bothering on their academics and welfare.
The Registrar, Acho Elendu Ph.D, the Dean, Student Affairs, Professor Levi Nwokocha, as well as the representatives of the student bodies including the speaker SRC, Rt Hon Ihendu Evans; Chief Judge ABSU Judiciary, Hon Justice Nwosu Nnadozie and other members of SUG, SRC, Faculty Presidents and Course Representatives were present at the meeting.
