By Nsan Ndoma-Nejo, Calabar
Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Steve Adi Odey, has raised the alarm over dereliction of duty by the Rector of Institute of Technology and Management, ITM, Ugep, Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, who is said to have left his duty post without following due process, 8nsistung that such behaviour was unacceptable.
Odey raised the alarm while addressing members of staff of the institution, shortly after a concluding a tour of facility in the campus with members of his team yesterday.
He said that a situation where the Rector of the institution decided to travel away from the institution leaving school administration in the hands of acting Rector is uncalled for.
The commissioner warned that henceforth, if no reason is given for the Rector’s absence from his duty post, disciplinary measures will be taken against him.
He said that despite series of petitions against the Rector, which the Rector was yet to address, he still absented himself from his duty post, promising to brief the state governor on the development so that government can find a way of bringing stability to the institution.
He assured staff of the Institution not to worry, as government has been working round the clock to ensure that stability returns to IMT, Ugep.
Reacting, the acting Rector of the institution, Dr. Akintola Abayomi, who spoke on behalf of management staff, enumerated the challenges facing the institute to include: low turn out of students, running of the institute by consultants, non-existence of Governing Council.
He therefore requested for indigenous management team for the institution, and full presence of the Cross River State government, among others.
