Varsity threatens to dismiss corrupt

  As part of efforts to partner with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to stem the growing menace of corruption in the country, the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, says it will not fail to sack any member of her staff and student discovered to be involved in aiding and abetting corrupt practices in the institution.

Rosemund Green-Osahogulu, acting vice chancellor of the University, dropped the hint while receiving a delegation from ICPC led by the Elias Oglafa, commission’s secretary, on a courtesy call to her office in Port Harcourt.

Green-Osahogulu, who lamented on the state of corruption in government-owned institutions across the country, said Nigerians need attitudinal change at this point in time to effectively combat this evil called corruption. She stated that issues of admission racketeering, undue employment, sorting, sexual harassment and certificate forgery amongst others which were cases that troubled the institution in the past have been addressed and IAUE product can now be proud of themselves wherever they go.

The Vice Chancellor informed the team that two lecturers recruited in the past before her assumption of office who claimed to be doctorate degree holders have been sent packing after the university uncovered that their claims was a false one as they were yet to obtain such qualification. And another 1,600 unduly employed staff were also shown the way out by the institution in its bid to enshrine due process and sweep away corruption from the system.

She also used the opportunity to remind members of her staff that the inauguration of the ICPC- Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit – ACTU, in the university was not to witchhunt any individual or group, but to help the institution stand, since the institution is a unique one and a role model in the country.

“I am also to be watched; the deans, the lecturers, the head of departments, everyone will be watched,” she stated.

The Vice Chancellor pledged her support and that of IAUE for the ICPC in the fight against corruption to fast-track Nigeria as a nation on the path of socioeconomic development and thanked the team for choosing her school as one of the first three universities where the ICPC-ACTU will be inaugurated.

Earlier in his speech, Oglafa, represented by Gadji Banabas, the director/head, Department of Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation, ICPC Abuja, told the Vice Chancellor that they were in the university to formerly inaugurate and induct a five-man ICPC-ACTU committee that have been constituted for the IAUE.

Oglafa, said the setting up of the ACTU in ministries, departments and agencies of government is aimed at preventing or minimising the incidents of corruption in government agencies across the country, stating that the measure have become necessary as it is practically impossible for ICPC as an agency alone to stamp out corruption from the country without the support of Nigerians.