Itoro BASSEY, Uyo —
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly committee on education has recommended the immediate reinstatement of some sacked teaching staff of the state-owned college of education, as they have not attained the mandatory 65 years of retirement age.
The House was also urged to direct departments handling the biometrics in the college to correct their errors and reconfigure the names of the hitherto sacked lecturers as academic staff and not as non-academic staff of the college, in addition to effecting their promotions, when due, and entitlements paid accordingly.
This is contained in a report submitted to the House during plenary, Tuesday, by the chairman of the committee, Mr. Samuel Ufuo.
The management of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, had disengaged some lecturers of the institution and their salaries and allowances stopped since 2013, following the implementation of the 65 years retirement age of academic staff of polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.
But sequel to series of petitions received by the house of assembly from the affected lecturers on their untimely disengagement from service, the education committee was subsequently mandated to investigate the circumstance surrounding their disengagement, the report of which was presented by Ufuo and received following a motion by the Chief Whip, Emmanuel Ekpenyong, and seconded by the member representing Nsit Ibom, Mfon Ekong.
Mr. Ufuo said his committee, in the course of its investigation into the matter, found out that the Akwa Ibom state government had conducted a payroll biometric exercise in the college beginning from 2103, with the names of the affected lecturers entered as non-academic staff who were to retire at the age of 60 or 35 years in service.
The report of the findings as read by Ufuo states in part: “Their (sacked lecturers) names were removed from the payroll and their salaries and allowances stopped since 2013. They were still rendering their professional duties as demanded by the college.
“While they were trying to sort out their matter in September 2016, the college issued them a letter captioned: ‘Notice of disengagement from service of the college’, as such they were no longer assigned official duties.
“Until now, the affected lecturers have not attained 65 years of age and as such should not be retired from service “.
Having received the report, the Speaker of the House, Onofiok Luke, ruled that it be deferred to the next legislative day, for further action.
Meanwhile, a bill for a law to establish the Akwa Ibom state Primary Healthcare Development Agency has passed second reading.
Speaker of the House, Onofiok Luke, who is the lead sponsor of the bill, said if passed, the law will ensure the provision of universal health coverage for the people of the state.
Urging his colleagues to support the passage of the bill into law, Luke, who represents Nsit Ubium constituency, said “there is need to strengthen primary healthcare service delivery in our state. People must have access to affordable healthcare services in line with the universal health coverage agenda.
Also, the House during Tuesday’s plenary passed a resolution authorising Governor Udom Emmanuel to extend by six months the tenure of members of transition committees in the state, making it an aggregate of twelve months.
Propellerng.com observes that members all spoke unanimously in support of the governor’s request contained in his letter to the state legislature seeking the extension of tenure of the transition committee members.
The lawmakers however urged the governor to ensure that elections are conducted this year.
In addition, the House read for the first time a bill for a law to provide for the prudent management of the state resources, ensure long-term macroeconomic stability of the state economy, secure greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations within the medium term fiscal policy framework and the establishment of the fiscal responsibility commission to ensure the promotion and enforcement of the Akwa Ibom state economic objectives and other matters related thereto.
The bill, which is sponsored by Mr. Udo Kieran Akpan, was committed to the House committee on Rules, Business and Estaff for scheduling.
Culled from Propellerng
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