Idris Ahmed, Owerri.
Governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said his government has commenced the process of tinkering with the modalities for the resumption of schools .
The Governor who disclosed to newsmen after the weekly state Executive Council meeting held at Sam Nbakwe Executive chamber, said a stakeholders meeting in the Education Sector, including parents and heads of private and public schools Will soon be held to collectively work out the reopening modalities in line with COVID-19 protocols.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has fixed August 4 for September 5, 2020, for students writing their West African School Certificate Examination
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. B. T. O. Ikegwuoha was directed to interface with the stakeholders to work out the modalities for a seem less resumption of schools.
According to the governor, ” the council commended our signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Julius Berger Nigeria PLC to work on Owerri-Orlu and Owerri-Okigwe Roads.
He said the Council reviewed the efforts of the administration in the areas of road rehabilitation and reconstruction already completed and/or on the verge of completion.
The roads include: Ideal Hotel to Federal Secretariat Road, Aladinma Housing Internal Road, Lake Nwaebere-Umuchima Street, and Chukwuma Nwaoha Road. Others include: Arugo Street, Okoro Street, Assumpta to Umuguma Road (partly aspalted), Oparanozie and Edede Streets, Okoro Street (Completed), and West End leading to Old Nekede Road as well as Douglas Road which is dualised, with one side completed.
Accordingly, the council describe as a right step in the right direction, the efforts at demolishing the tunnel at the House of Assembly-Port Harcourt Road Junction which has been a threat to lives and properties of Imolites.
On health matters, the Council noted that the state now has the capacity to test over 50 people daily on COVID-19 and that an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) which is now in existence in Imo State is one of the best in the country.
Also, the Council noted that following the rot in the Imo State University, government has set up a committee working on a white paper that will soon be made public. It also said that despite the monumental fraud and revenue leakages in the university, the workers have been paid their salaries and allowances up to May 2020.
The government however, frowned at a situation where the University could not pay workers their February salary after government had released January and February subventions to the institution’s authority. To this effect, government has directed the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikegwuoha to issue a query to the Vice Chancellor of the University on why she could not pay when the money had been released to her.
The Executive Council also discovered that a company called Tenssy Professional Services which collects school fees for the University is also owned by the son of the Vice Chancellor, and that the same consultant collects fees from other tertiary institutions in Imo State.
The Council, therefore, decided that the company should seize forthwith from collection of fees for Imo State University and any other tertiary institutions in Imo State.
The Governor also commended the Council for the courage to fight the payroll fraud in Imo State, which has the positive result of government being able to pay all workers and pensioners in the state, reiterating that the days of payroll system have been abolished as all salaries and pensions are now automated.
“Today in Imo, any worker who has not received his/her salary has issues either with BVN, account number or employment history, and that government has given all workers who have genuine complaints one month to lodge such complaints on the website that will soon be launched by the State Government, the Governor explained.
