The Vice-chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe has described technologists as indispensible staff in the University, that must be given access to adequate training for them to attain a high level of efficiency.
The Sixth Vice-chancellor of the institution, who disclosed this when National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) MOUAU chapter, paid him a courtesy visit in his office recently, added that the welfare of the entire staff and students is of great importance to him.
Chairman, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), MOUAU Chapter, Comrade Ifeanyi Nwaji during a courtesy visit to VC, MOUAU recently.
He maintained that members of the association would receive adequate training at different levels, while all their rights and privileges would be protected under his watch as the Vice-chancellor.
The Isuochi-born Professor of food science, who commended NAAT as the first Union to visit him after his emergence as the university Vice-chancellor, further charged members of the association to remain diligent in the discharge of their duties, adding that the shortage of technologists in the university would soon be addressed by his administration.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, NAAT, MOUAU chapter, Comrade Ifeanyi Nwaji congratulated the Vice-chancellor, Prof. Iwe for his emergence as the sixth Vice-chancellor of the institution, and pledged their support to his administration.
The Vice-chancellor, MOUAU, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe (Right) and NAAT Chairman, MOUAU, Comrade Ifeanyi Nwaji (Left) during a courtesy call to the Vice-chancellor recently.
Nwaji made case for the payment of 55 months Occupational Hazard Allowance arrears owed Technologists of the institution from November 2015 to January 2020 also appealed that their members who have been on CONTISS 13 with HND, having served for over 20 years be promoted to CONTISS 14.
The NAAT chairman, further appealed to the Vice-chancellor that some percentage of TETFUND be allotted to Technologists’ training/retraining since they work as academic support staff while grant should be given to their members undergoing postgraduate studies outside the university for courses not offered by MOUAU.
In his words: “The administering of promotion examination to Technologists without considering their core area of specialty be looked into while the procurement of laboratory chemical reagents and equipment by the university bookshop for our members across various departments of the institution should be looked into as it has hampered our productivity as Academic Technologists”.
