– Summons School’s Managers
The Abia State House of Assembly has commenced an investigation into the sundry allegations of mismanagement of Government College Umuahia.
A Joint Committee on Education, Public Petitions and Judiciary of the House began the probe into the allegations following a petition by Mr Chukwudi Onwudinanti, an indigene of Ubani Emede- Ibeku, Umuahia East constituency.
Onwudanti, a member of Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) in his petition before the House had alleged that Fisher Education Development Trust (FEDT) saddled with the responsibility of managing the school has deviated from the foundation objectives of the school by increasing the school fees astronomically thereby shutting out brilliant indigent students within Ibeku and Umuahia East state constituency.
In his address to the chairmen of the committees investigating his petition, Onwudinanti said his concerns revolve around the ownership and management of the school.
According to him, it is inconceivable that Government College Umuahia would become a private school such that because of its fees it is inaccessible to the general public.
He also told the lawmakers that he finds it difficult to understand the rationale behind the destruction of heritage buildings in the school to make way for a golf course and the encroachment on lands freely donated to the school.
Onwudinanti pointed out that FEDT as managers of the school does not represent GCUOBA, nor the Abia State Government which means the school is being run without regard for the protection of public interest.
He is therefore praying that the House re-examined the agreement that ceded the school to GCUOBA by the Abia State government to ensure that the school and its assets remain property of the government.
Onwudinanti also called for the reconstitution of the management body of the school to accommodate the interests of the state government, GCUOBA, and the general public.
Furthermore, while praying for assets and Certificate of Occupancy of the land of the school to be returned to the state government, he demanded an unequivocal pronouncement of GCU as a public school.
Onwudinanti seeks new management to evaluate and determine the fees and uniforms to reflect the interests of the public to ensure GCU retains sits status as a state heritage and landmark of historic value.
The National President of GCUOBA, Dr Chinedum Ahaiwe who in his address to the lawmakers recalled that the Memorandum of Understanding handing over the school to GCUOBA was executed by the Abia State government and GCUOBA on July 21, 2014, disclosed that FEDT was incorporated to manage the school.
He however expressed sadness that FEDT has since severed its relationship with CGUOBA, on claims of being independent thereby arbitrarily declaring GCU a private school, demolishing several archival and heritage buildings, changing the school uniform, and pegged the school fees at N2million.
Ahaiwe who reiterated that GCUOBA does not know how the school is being managed disclosed that the initial trustees of FEDT who were appointed in 2014 and whose tenure has since expired have bluntly refused to exit even after GCUOBA has nominated replacement vide its Annual General Meeting in 2024.
The Chairman of the House Joint Committee on Education, Public Petition and Judiciary, Hon Anderson Akaliro said the House has given members of FEDT until Thursday, March 27 to appear before the Committee.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon Austin Okezie Meregini in an interview assured that the House would conclude its assignment within the two weeks given by the leadership of the House.
