Protest rocks FCA Ishiagu over alleged suspension of Registrar, Procurement Officer

The Staff and college community of the Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu (FCAI) in Ebonyi State have protested an alleged illegal suspension of the Registrar and Procurement Officer. 

The Joint Action Union (JAC) claims the suspension is unjust and demands intervention from the Honourable Minister for Agriculture.

"The Governing Board, The Minister of Agriculture, and the Presidency should call the Executive Secretary to order. The transferred staff have no disciplinary actions against them - no sexual harassment to people's wives and students, misconduct, or any wrongdoing," the protesters emphasized.

The protesters alleged that acting Provost Dr. Jonah Nwawuisi has abdicated responsibilities to cronies, leading to embezzlement and inefficiency. 

They carried placards with messages like "Stooges have hijacked the provost's duties" and "Enough of corruption in FECAI".

The staff petitioned the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and ARCN to withdraw the letters and threatened to mobilize other agencies to protest if demands aren't met. 

They alleged a contractor, Nicholas Agha, masterminded the transfer of the Registrar and Procurement Officer, who had issues with him over job allocations.

A staff, who wished anominity, alleged that the contractor and consultant, are frustrating the institution's domiciled jobs attracted by National Assembly members if the jobs aren't grabbed by him.

The protesters accused Agha of conniving with ARCN's Executive Secretary to issue illegal transfer letters. They demanded that Nicholas Agha come to Ishiagu to explain his job designation in FCAI - whether he's a consultant, contractor, and Procurement Officer all at the same time.

The Union questioned the Executive Secretary's actions, citing the Bureau of Public Procurement mandate that restricts CEOs from indiscriminate posting of Procurement Officers, alleging that the Secretary acted ultra vires in signing the transfer letters.

The Union alleged that the Executive Secretary denied the Procurement Officer and the Registrar access and ignored pleas from other Directors to listen to them. They demanded answers on the "order from above" that led to the transfer without due process.

The Union has locked the Provost's office, demanding answers to all the alleged illegalities and corruption in FCAI. 

They further called on the Executive Secretary to respect the Council's integrity and the Minister of Agriculture and the Presidency to intervene.