Academic staff at the Benjamin Uwajumogu State College of Education in Imo have threatened to embark on a strike.

NAN reports that the staffers called on Hope Uzodimma, the state governor, to intervene in a management crisis plaguing the institution.

The crisis, it is understood, borders on the acting provost Maryrose Nwachukwu, resource usage, and contract award procedures.

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) at the institution accused Nwachukwu of abusing her powers and awarding contracts without due process.

It stated that the provost had been acting for 30 months but paid imprest for only five months to directors, deans, and department heads.

Imprests are funds used in an organisation for small expenditures and are usually restored to a fixed amount periodically.

The union claimed that directors, deans, and department heads have been using their funds to prepare accreditation documents and logistics since March 2024.

It alleged that the provost procured items single-handedly and awarded TETFund contracts without academic deans and HOD involvement or due process.

It accused Nwachukwu of solely accessing TETFund for microteaching laboratory equipment without the knowledge of the HOD of the office.

COEASU argued that TETFund projects executed under her watch were poorly executed and did not follow the college’s development plan.

“She awards TETFund contracts in the college without following the Procurement Act 2007 guidelines and has awarded over N1.5 billion contract without tenders board, which comprises academic deans and HODs,” the union said.

The COEASU chairman Wilson Amandi and its secretary in the college Benedict Amuchie asked the state government to intervene.

Both executives said the union is forced to consider embarking on a strike in two weeks, should the matter remain unresolved.

The union expressed concern that the claims of insecurity cited for the non-provision of the essentials were not investigated.

It accused the provost of terminating the acting bursar’s appointment without reason, forcing him to hand over to a new appointee.

COEASU said it wrote letters seeking state intervention through the chief of staff Ferdinard Uzodimma and alleged that Nwachukwu ignored invitations to meet the governor’s aide.

Reacting, the provost described COEASU’s allegations as “baseless”, insisting that her actions were based on state directives.

On the sacked bursar, Nwachukwu said the college did not have a governing council and that the commissioner of education oversees the affairs of the institution.

The Borno State Executive Council has approved the renaming of the state-owned university to Kashim Ibrahim University in honour of the first governor of the defunct Northern region.

The decision was reached during the first State Executive Council meeting of 2025, chaired by Governor Babagana Zulum.

The meeting, which ended Monday night at the Government House Council Chamber, lasted over six hours, as key issues affecting the state were discussed.

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Usman Tar, revealed that the council considered 42 memos and assessed the performance of the state government in the previous year, along with projections for 2025.

Tar further explained that the renaming of the state university will be subject to legislative procedures and the necessary notifications to relevant authorities in coordination with the Ministry of Education.

“Council approved that Borno State University shall be renamed Kashim Ibrahim University, Maiduguri. This is subject to further legislative work by the State Assembly to amend the law establishing the University. It is also subject to the ministry of education taking necessary action by informing relevant regulatory authorities like the National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN),” Tar stated.

The council also approved street naming and house numbering in Maiduguri and other urban areas as part of the urban renewal drive of Governor Zulum-led administration.

“Maiduguri is fast developing; there are a lot of new buildings, public roads, and other facilities that need to be renamed. Council decided that relevant MDAs shall meet with relevant agencies including Nigerian Postal Service, Nigerian Geological Survey, traditional rulers, and community leaders to arrive at a new naming template,” he said.

The commissioner announced that when completed, the updated names across the state will be reflected on Google Map, public directories, and official records to support effective development planning.

“The process will begin immediately as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to enhance urban planning and governance,” he said.

Speaking at the first Executive Council meeting, Zulum welcomed members into the new year, commending them for their unwavering commitment and support to his administration.

Zulum emphasised his administration’s focus on scaling up post-conflict and post-flood recovery efforts, with the aim of delivering more impactful projects to further improve the lives of Borno citizens.

“In 2024, my administration achieved significant progress in the implementation of government programmes and projects, and I am committed to doing even more in 2025,” Zulum said.

The Executive Council meeting also included a valedictory session in honour of the outgoing Head of Service, Malam Fannami, who will be retiring from public service later this month.

They thanked him for his service and contributions to the development of the state.

The West African Examinations Council has introduced resit examinations for candidates.

This was said to allow them to retake their West African Senior Secondary Examinations papers as early as January and February 2025.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show in Ghana on Sunday, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, confirmed the development.

“Students who access their results now and realise they need to resit one or two papers have until 8th January to register online through our website or at WAEC-accredited internet cafés.

“The exams will take place from 24th January to 15th February 2025,” Kapi stated.

Kapi further noted that students whose results have been cancelled are also eligible to sit the WASSCE PC1 exams, provided they have not been banned for malpractice.