Imo government decries vandalism of educational facilities

THE Imo State Government has decried the vandalism of the twin-story building, which was said to have cost the Rochas Okorocha administration several billions of naira.

Chairman of the Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB), Gertrude Oduka, represented by the Director of Administration and Supplies, Stella Ukagba, disclosed government’s position yesterday while inspecting the facilities vandalised or stolen at twin-story buildings at Umunechi in Obowo local council.

She warned that the state government would not refurbish any vandalised facility in the newly rehabilitated public schools. Some of the items vandalised included doors and PVC ceilings.

Oduka also reminded monarchs, community leaders and vigilance groups in the various communities that the state placed so much premium on the safety of the facilities provided to make school children study in a conducive environment.
NAWOJ seeks death penalty for rapists

In another development, the Imo State chapter of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) is advocating capital punishment for rape offenders.

According to the chairman, Florence Onwumere, who disclosed this in Owerri after an executive meeting, the body is concerned at the incessant rape incidents across the country and is seeking death penalty as the only sufficient punishment for such offence.

She also urged all levels of government, church and other religious authorities, as well as socio-cultural organisations to intensify efforts at sensitising people and monitoring what they do.

While commending the Imo State Government for its efforts so far in that direction, she called on law enforcement agencies to do more by apprehending rapists and punishing them as deterrence.

NUT gets new chairman
Meanwhile, the state’s branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has elected Napoleon Aniche as its new chairman. He took over from Dr. C. U. Okeke.

In a statement in Owerri, Aniche assured that he would uphold the ideals of the profession, while inviting very teacher to ensure the same in line with the ethics of the profession. He promised to ensure that teachers were given their rightful positions.

Hope rises for pipe-borne water
Meanwhile, the government has begun the process of rehabilitating water facilities for residents, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Utilities, Chinedu Ajoku, disclosed yesterday in Owerri during a meeting with the ministry and officials of the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA), led by the Managing Director, Patrick Okereafor.

According to him, government was already rehabilitating the gigantic regional water scheme, which would supply water to many homes presently suffering due to equipment breakdown. He disclosed that efficient and cost-effective measures would be adopted to realise the goal.

Similarly, Okereafor said the federal agency was keen on identifying and partnering the state to achieve the goal, regretting, however, such impediments as dwindling inflow of funds, power supply and vandalisation of facilities by hoodlums.