Gov Nwifuru’s Decision To Hand Over Schools To Original Owners Best For Ebonyi -Chief Ike Cletus

The Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on Internal Security, Ivo Local Government Area of the State, Chief Ike Cletus yesterday said that the decision of the State Governor, Rt. Hon Francis Nwifuru to handover the management of mission schools to its original owners will be best for the State.

Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki, on the laudable achievement of the State Governor in the Education sector, Chief Ike maintained that the decision will help to revive the moribund and substandard educational system in the state adding that missionaries are good school managers as attested to by the academic excellence of many mission schools.

“In his avowed determination to reposition the education sector in the state, the Governor has promised to hand over the management of mission schools back to its original owners with the state government bearing the remuneration of its staff.

“In that regard, the entire staff of King David Gifted Academy, Abakaliki have been absorbed into the state civil service while leaving its management to the Catholic mission.

Chief Ike noted that the State Government has also concluded plans to establish model primary and secondary schools across the three Senatorial zones in the state adding that most beneficiaries of the state government postgraduate scholarship program will be engaged in the model schools as teachers with very attractive salary scale as obtainable globally.

“Considering the high standards of these model schools, there is no need for all classes of Ebonyians including the Governor to send their children to schools outside Ebonyi state.

He noted that work is seriously going on at the site for the proposed University of Information Communication Technology, ICT Opherekpe-Agbaja.

“In line with his vision for technology-driven institutions, Governor Nwifuru envisions the ICT University as a training ground for the needed man power to actualize the digitalization of Ebonyi state.

“In the same vein, the University of Aeronautical Engineering, Onueke, Ezza South is on the pipe line even as he has directed for the re-establishment of the EBSU Teaching Hospital earlier merged with the AE-FUNAI, Ebonyi state.

“Governor Nwifuru envisions Ebonyi state as the destination hub of specialized Education in Nigeria. The multiplier effect will certainly have positive chain reactions in the area of employment opportunities, access to quality education and overall development of the state.

He noted that the Governor’s policy and commitment towards revitalizing the education sector will automatically expunge Ebonyi state from the list of educationally disadvantaged states to one of the most educationally advanced states in Nigeria.

He commended the State Governor for the approval of N10,000 monthly bonus to all the state civil servants including the teachers and the approved the payment of hundred thousand naira Christmas bonus to all the state civil servants.

He noted that the gesture was to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal. For the love of the State Workforce, Gov Nwifuru ordered the release of all withheld promotions and leave allowances to all qualified civil servants in the state. This is in addition to the prompt payment of their monthly salaries.

“He didn’t stop at that, he also approved the sum of three hundred million naira for the payment of backlog areas of over 8 months salaries owed to EBSU workers and equally increased the university’s subvention from one hundred and fifty million naira to two hundred million naira.

“He also facilitated the accreditation of all the courses and the creation of more faculties in Ebonyi state university. With this huge financial investment in the university, the hitherto comatose citadel of learning has surely bounce back to life.

“Governor Nwifuru thoughtfully approved a yearly scholarships scheme to seventy qualified Ebonyians for their Masters and PhD programs in select courses at both local and foreign universities.

“He equally directed the immediate payment of three hundred thousand naira as partial scholarship to all law school candidates from Ebonyi state. This is in addition to the ongoing bursary payments to all Ebonyi students.

Chief Ike called on all individuals and corporate organizations to support the Governor in his well thought out plans in the Education sector and assist him in investing in the education sector of the state.