By Suleiman Anyalewechi, Aba
Indications have emerged as to the real reasons behind the hurriedly organized convocation ceremony last Friday May 12, 2023 by the management of the plagued Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.
The Dr Hagler Okorie led management had organised the makeshift convocation amidst 45 months’ salary arrears been owed the beleaguered workers even as it is greatly characterised by the rip-off of the vulnerable graduands.
NewsCritic online authoritatively gathered that the convocation ceremony, the only in over 12-years was more propelled by an alleged personal interest of the management team and their benefactors in government circle.
Impeccable sources revealed that each of the graduands from 2010 to 2021 is to cough out N25,000 representing cost of certificates and convocation gowns. About 50000 graduands are believed to have been captured in the process.
Our sources feared that the expected windfall which is said to have started trickling in may not add value to the sagging fortune of the workers, but may end up serving the personal interests of some forces both within and without.
“The fact is that the convocation is overdue, no doubt about that in that it is almost over10 years since the last one. But most of us are not comfortable with the desperation by the management which is headed by someone who is barely two months on the job, and was appointed by a regime that equally has a few days to go. The staffers were billed to join the state wide strike called by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, on Tuesday May 9, but the Rector almost went down on his knees pleading that we should allow the convocation to hold and thereafter join the strike next week Monday.
“You could see the desperation in him. One had expected him to show that kind of seriousness in appealing to the government to pay us even if it is two months out of the about 45-month salary arrears. In fact, we understand that part of the reasons the Rector adduced on why the convocation should not be disrupted is that he is hoping to make some money for the Polytechnic, part of which will be used for salary.
“We know that this is not going to be case, because their personal interests will override those of the suffering workforce. They are collecting from each graduand from 2010 to 2021 the sum of N25,000 for the convocation. And during those years we have not less than 50000 graduands. As far as we are concerned this hurriedly organized convocation is sham, only meant to massage the ego of the organizers,” a former workers union leader told Newscritic.
All attempts to speak with the Rector as at the time of filling this report were not successful, but a source close to the management team who pleaded anonymity said the convocation ceremony had all the while been in the offing even during the tenure of Sir Allwell Onukogu, and was only birthed by the determination of the present management, adding that instead of criticism, Hagler Okorie deserves accolade.
