Some staff of Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu (ASCETA) have petitioned the newly constituted Governing Council Accusing the Provost, Prof Vincent Onwe of financial recklessness.
They said the activities of the provost have been undermining the growth of the institution and therefore want the Council to sanction him.
The petition reads:
The Chairman
Governing Council
Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu
Dear Sir
ABUSE OF OFFICE AND SUBVERSION OF FINANCIAL REGULATIONS BY ASCETA PROVOST, PROF VINCENT ONWE
It is with a heavy heart that we, CONCERNED STAFF OF ASCETA, write to intimate you on the ongoing abuse of office and financial regulations by our Provost, Prof Vincent Onwe. While he was able to get away with his past corrupt misdeeds at the absence of a Governing Council, we believe that you should not allow him taint your name and integrity since there is a rumour that he is already boasting of having you and other members of the council in his pocket.
You might have been aware ,Sir ,of certain disciplinary measures taken against ASCETA by both the Tetfund and NCCE, which arose because of mismanagement and financial recklessness of Prof Vincent Onwe. Notwithstanding those measures that have impacted negatively on the development of the institution, the Provost has delved into committing more financial atrocities, including approval of payments beyond his statutory limit.
1 INSURANCE OF ASSETS OF ASCETA
As soon as Tetfund released the first tranche of Twenty Million Naira for the job, Prof Vincent Onwe hurriedly procured BFAO INSURANCE BROKERS LTD and released the money to the company without due process because of his pecuniary interest. Due process and due diligence were not followed. For instance, the Provost didn’t confirm the following before payment
- License to operate as a broker to be obtained from NICOM
- The License must be current.
- An insurance broker must be a member of National Council for INSURANCE brokers
- Papers to be submitted for insurance job must be that of an insurance company because the broker is a mere intermediary
- Money paid must be remitted to the insurance company not later than 30 days. Curiously, it’s been more than 45 days,the money has not been remitted. Our fear is that the Provost never intended to insure any ASCETA assets but used the broker as a conduit to fraudulently embezzle the money. -The pertinent questions are, why did the Provost by-pass the council to award and release money above his payment limit? How many years were the assets insured since Tetfund released premium for 2021,2022,2023 and 2024 merged? Which of the ASCETA assets did he actually insure?
RENOVATION OF SCIENCE LECTURE THEATRE
This contract was also hurriedly awarded to St Gabriel Okey Nig Ltd without due process and without recourse to the council. It was under Tetfund Intervention for maintenance for 2021-2024. Prof Onwe paid the contractor Thirty Million. But the contractor has not mobilized to site since because it was alleged that chunk of the money was diverted and embezzled by the Provost. Again, why did he pay without approval by the Council since his payment limit is only Three Million Naira only.
Shockingly, the contractor was paid without following Tetfund guidelines of submitting bank guarantee. Instead of the statutory 15 percent for a start up , the contractor was paid fully for 50 percent.
Mr Chairman Sir, it is germane to find out from the Provost, Prof Vincent Onwe why he hurriedly paid these aforementioned contractors while the contractor handling the Library Intervention has not been paid FOUR MONTHS after meeting ALL CONDITIONS set out by Tetfund?
We are alarmed that due to the greed and inexperience of the Provost, Tetfund will soon blacklist ASCETA. We urge you to intervene before it is too late.
For fear of victimisation by the Provost, we may not put up our names. But please, patiently investigate the substance of this petition.
Yours in the service of ASCETA