Tension In Bayelsa State College Of Health Technology Otuogidi-Ogbia Town

The Bayelsa State College of Health Technology Otuogidi in Ogbia Town in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has been faced with unprecedented managerial deficiencies and academic imbalance occasioned by forgery by principal officers in recent times.

The managerial deficiencies and forgeries caused by principal officers in the institution, have immensely affected and is still affecting the academic activities and administrative functions of the institution, which have lasted longer than expected in the state-owned tertiary institution.

Reliable sources reveal that the current Acting Provost of the institution, has been in that Acting capacity for over a year and six months, which is against the rules and regulations of the regulatory body, which is the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and also against the Public Service Rules.

Sadly too, all the the offices including that of the Provost Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, are on acting capacity for over a year and six months, which is against the guidelines of the regulatory body of the technical education (NBTE).

Investigations indicates that the institution Governing Council did not follow the constituted requirements for the appointment of principal officers as prescribed by the regulatory body, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The National Board for Technical Education does not permit principal officers of any College of health technology to be handled in acting capacity for more than three months, after the expiration of the tenure of the substantive Provost and management.

In the light of the above, the College of Health Technology, risks deaccredidation of accredited programmes in the institution due to the prolonged delay in the constitution of a substantive management by the Bayelsa state government as a state-owned tertiary institution.

Principal officers who are in acting capacity of the college, are currently investigated by officers of zone 16 of Nigeria Police in Yenagoa for alleged forgery of promotions, and other discrepancies perpetrated by them.

The peace and effective functioning of the college is at stake, as staff reacts to the maladministration of the college by the Acting Provost, including other principal officers who are in acting capacity basically.

The appointment of a substantive provost in line with the guidelines of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) which emphasis the appointment of the the most qualified academic staff, will restructure and revamp the institution for effective performance.

Staff of the college are appealing to the Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri to appoint the most qualified academic staff of the college, as prescribed by the regulatory body (NBTE) which is the only panacea that will save the College from deaccredidation and other sanctions from the Regulatory Board.

~ Dr. Perekeme Oyinkuro,

A concerned Bayelsan writes from Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, Otuogidi.

30th, April, 2024.