Abia to sack unqualified poly staff members

Abia-  Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia said on Friday in Umuahia that staff members that were ``wrongfully’’ employed by the state-owned Polytechnic in Aba, Abia, would be sacked.

Orji made the statement when he received the interim report of a panel on verification of certificates of academic and non-academic staff of the state-own polytechnic.

 ``If there is anybody that has been recommended by the panel that is not qualified to work in the polytechnic, such person must be sacked,’’ the governor he said.

The governor advised staff members of the polytechnic who know they came in through the back door to quietly disappear before government disgraces them through issuance of disengagement letters.

The governor said the motive of the panel was not to witch-hunt anybody but to ensure that the right thing is done.

Orji said inauguration of the panel followed complaints by the people, adding that the operations of other sectors would be looked into as well.

``We are only running a welfare state because in the school system for instance, we have more teachers than we actually need like in a class of 25 students where you see two teachers; some peel melon during school hours.

``We have bloated staff everywhere, even in the civil service, and when there is increase in salaries these people who actually do not make any contribution to government will be the first to carry placards,’’ he said.

Orji, who thanked members of the panel for the diligence with which they handled the job, assured them that the report would be implemented.

Earlier, Mr Chibuike Nwokeukwu, the chairman of the panel, thanked the governor for giving members the opportunity to serve.

He said that the final report would be submitted soon.

NAN