Otti approves mass promotion for staff of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic after 17 years

*As ABSU secures accreditation for 5 courses, gets N800m engineering equipment

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

L-R: Special Adviser to the Governor (Media & Publicity) Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, during the Briefing

After 17 years of stagnation, Abia State government has approved mass promotion of staff of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba.

This is as the National University Commission has approved five major programmes for Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), just as the state government has voted to acquire an N800 million engineering equipment for the university.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, made these known while briefing journalists Tuesday in Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

The Commissioner announced that the staff of the institution have received promotions with full financial benefits as well as payment of salary arrears to sacked and resigned staff, following approval by the State Executive Council. 

“In terms of administration and welfare of the Staff of the institution, all the staff of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic have been promoted with full financial benefits. Council has given approval in that regard. 

“It is instructive to note that this is the first promotion exercise in the institution since 2008, making it a major morale booster for the personnel.

“Also, the payments of arrears of salaries of sacked and resigned staff of the institution have commenced, as approved by the State Executive Council,” Prince Kanu said.

He disclosed that the ongoing reforms in the education sector by the Governor is reflecting with impressive strides recorded both academically and technologically at the Polytechnic.

Students of the institution, the Commissioner said, recorded 100 percent success rate in the National Institute of Science Laboratory Technology Modular Practical Exams, Phase 1.

“All the 164 students fielded by the school for the exam passed with a success rate of 100 percent. For Modular 2, 157 out of 158 students passed, representing a 99 percent success rate,” Prince Kanu revealed.

He said that the Polytechnic has launched an online clearance platform to ease students’ administrative burdens, adding that the institution was undergoing a comprehensive curriculum review, with the introduction of emerging courses, including Artificial Intelligence, to align with global trends.

Meanwhile, Prince Kanu has announced that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted full accreditation for five major programmes of Abia State University Uturu(ABSU). NUC conducted the accreditation exercise in ABSU in October and November 2024.

The accredited courses include; Law, Agriculture, Mass Communication, Educational Management and Planning, adding that the accreditation will be valid for five years.

The Commissioner emphasized that the development was part of the achievements of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, in line with Governor Otti’s declared emergency in the education sector.

“The State Ministry of Tertiary Education has continued to record giant strides in service delivery in line with the vision and agenda of His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, in the field of education.

“If you recall, at the outset of this administration, His Excellency declared a state of emergency in the field of education and, ever since, the state Government has not looked back in that direction,” the Commissioner said.

He announced that the Governor, in conjunction with the University ‘s Council, has approved the recruitment of new academic staff to fill vacant positions, as well as the procurement of engineering equipment worth N800 million.

He also confirmed that the renovation of the Male Hostel at the University was ongoing following Governor Otti’s unscheduled visit to the institution recently, saying that the renovation work would be completed by the end of May.

Also, the Commissioner announced that the Executive Council has approved the recruitment of 5,300 teachers under the first phase of the Teacher Recruitment Exercise, which he said, “represents the number of people who were successful all through the process.”

Another round of teacher recruitment exercise will soon be announced. A portal in that regard will be opened in the next couple of days,” he added.