By; Onigah Joseph
In her firmed resolved to place the University of Calabar at the highest pedestal, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi has approved the refund of all monies collected by staff of the University without approval to students.
Prof. Obi who gave the approval after a report from SERVICOM, says
\”There\’s is a central approved charges by the University Senate. I know times are hard, we\’ve been owed for eight months, but the students are not the ones owing us. We should rather face the people who are owing us and not the students. The authority must be respected as we will never accept any short practice within the University.
I commend those of you who had the courage to speak up, and I enjoin other students to join suit. Feel free to report any corrupt practice to me as you all have my contact and support\”.
According to the Institution ServiCom Director, Prof. Patrick Egaga, \”one of the policies of this Administration is zero tolerance for corruption and corrupt practices. There\’s no acceptance of misconduct, malfeasance or disorderly behavior from, or especially staff or students.
We are refunding monies that were unlawfully and unscrupulously extorted from students by Lecturers. By the mandate of ServiCom to ensure people including students are served right, we took it upon ourselves, investigations were carried out and varying sums of monies were recovered.
\”As the exercise have been flagged off by the Vice-Chancellor and with the support of the Chief Security Officer(CSO), students who have traveled and whose names are written down will definitely get their funds from the office of the chief security without any challenge.
\”The Vice-Chancellor and her Team have given so much courage to the students to speak up on anything that is inimical to their progress on campus. It is not only the collection of money, all other sharp practices that are not condoned in the system perpetuated by staff to students or staff to staff should be reported as investigation and other necessary actions will be taken. We are doing this with professionalism as identity, picture or anything personal to the victims are not given to the public.
In the same vein, the Chief Security Officer of the institution, Capt. Austin Bisong(rtd) while recounting the successes of his Team noted that \”the University of Calabar has changed. It is no longer what you used to know when you started your academic sojourn. This Administration is committed to flush out those vices. Anywhere you are intimidated, just present your case and you\’ll get result within a very short period. Speak up and don\’t be cowards, stand-up for what you believe in, you got our backings.
Reacting to the effort of the Administration thus far, the students thanked the Vice-Chancellor for ensuring that she keeps to her promises, while encouraging others to be bold and courageous to confide in the VC when needs arises.
