by By Elijah Ugani – Calabar
The Commissioner for Quality Education, Dr. Goodwin Amanke has called on the management and staff of the Cross River University of Technology CRUTECH, to desist from infighting among themselves to ease the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the institution.
Amanke made the call when the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Austin Angba led other management staff on a courtesy visit to the Commissioner in his office in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
His words “let me use this opportunity to call on the management, staff and student’s unions within the institution to desist from infighting to enable the institution get a substantive Vice Chancellor. The Vice Chancellor in Acting capacity is limited to certain things, as such CRUTECT cannot continue to have Acting Vice Chancellors.
“I want to commend the foresight of the Governor who I referred to as a man who knows tomorrow for appointing Prof. Austin Angba, Acting Vice Chancellor.
“With Prof. Angba, I expect so much from CRUTECH community, I know he has the capacity to do it, but he needs the cooperation of all of us, ranging from the Bursar, Registrar and Directors of all Units and departments”
Earlier, the Acting Vice chancellor, Prof. Austin Angba thanked the governor for giving him the opportunity to contribute his quota to the development of the institution.
Angba pledge his commitment to the development of the institution through collaborative measures to ensure quality educational system in line with global best practices, which will involve innovative models.
He mentioned insecurity and salary deficit as some of the major challenges confronting the institution. On insecurity, he noted that insecurity was minimal since students were not on campus. He explained that salary deficit was occasioned by non payment of school charges by students which amount to about 80 million.
Recall that since the expiration of the tenure of Prof. Anthony Owan-Enor as Vice Chancellor, in April 2019, Prof. Austin Angba is the third person to be appointed Acting Vice Chancellor of the state owned university, CRUTECH.
A development which has received serous back lash from the public. With the consul from the commissioner and if taken seriously, then there will be some form of relief for the institution as a substantive Vice Chancellor will sure be appointed.
Critics continue to argue that prolonged and continuous appointment of Acting Vice Chancellors, development in the institution will be at a snail space, considering that six months is too short for any body to plan a budget or execute any serious project.
Findings have reveal that CRUTECH is one of the state owned university with a salary structure with line with federal salary structure.
On the entourage for the courtesy call were; Mr. Ekpe Ibom Ekpe – Bursar, Prof. William Nkamo – Librarian, Mr. Alaga E. Alaga – Auditor, Barr. Uno I. Ogban.
