Chidiebube Okeoma, Owerri
The governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma, has ordered the state commissioner for education, prof Bernard Ikegwuoha, to immediately issue a query to the Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University, Owerri, Prof Adaobi Obasi.
A source from the governor’s office in Owerri confided in our correspondent that the governor issued the order to his education commissioner on Wednesday at the government house.
The source said that the governor found out that the subvention for the month of February which the VC received which was meant for the payment of salaries of lecturers and non academic staff of the varsity was not used for the purpose.
The source said that the governor was angry when the panel investigating how the university was being run came up with a proof that the VC was unable to give explicit account of how the February subvention was utilized.
The source said ” journalist, the governor has ordered the state commissioner for education to immediately issue a query to the VC of IMSU.A panel was able to uncover that the allocation for the month of February which the VC received for the payment of salaries was not utilized.
“The VC was unable to to give explicit account of how the February subvention was utilized when confronted. Not satisfied with the VC’s explanation, the governor ordered that she should be issued with a query immediately. The education commissioner is going to do that any moment from now.”
When contacted, Ralph Obi-Njoku who is the Public Relations officer of IMSU said that he had yet to be communicated on the development.
He said ” I need to find out because I am not aware.The letter had yet to arrive as of the time I left office. I will confirm and get back to you.”
The education commissioner told our correspondent that it was not yet the time to speak to the press on the matter.
Our correspondent gathered that the lecturers and non academic staff of the varsity had started receiving their salary arrears as of Wednesday afternoon.
A source said ” IMSU staff have started receiving their salary arrears.As I speak with you, they have received four months salary arrears uptil May.