The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Engr. Dr. M.C. Arimanwa FNSE, JP, has parleyed with the Student Consultative Council (SCC) of the pace-setting institution. The Polytechnic chief Monday hosted the students at the Council Chambers of the institution. While introducing the mission of the students, the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Okafo Okeraffia stated that the students came to speak to the Rector on certain developments that may require his intervention.
The issues according to the Dean bordered on high charges at the FedPoNek Microfinance Bank, O/Level verification, Quick Response Code on results, breakdown of the school fees and Microsoft and seat fees.
After the mission declaration, he yielded the floor to some student leaders who reinforced the aforementioned issues while implicating others.
In a release by U.O Iwuji, PhD, the media aide to the Rector, the Rector answered the students in an exhaustive way reminiscent of his role as the father of the Polytechnic. On the issue of high bank charges, the Rector stated that the Microfinance Bank is not entirely controlled by the institution, adding that it is regulated mainly by the Central Bank of Nigeria. However, he promised to reach out to the Manager of the Bank with a view to reducing the charges.
With regard to Microsoft and Seat fees charged part-time students, the Rector noted that they were necessary charges used in maintaining facilities in the institution in view of the fact that the Federal Polytechnic do not fund the part-time programme. He also observed that some other higher institutions charge their part-time exorbitantly, stating that Nekede was exceptional in that direction.
The Rector also made it clear that textbooks are not compulsory in Nekede, adding that the maximum price is around N2500 which is far below what obtains in other institutions.
Regarding the request of the students to conduct one CBT examination per session, the Rector stated it was not in the place of students to determine what and how an examination is written, pointing out that “a person writing an exam does not determine how he would write it.”
In the area of power supply on campus, the Rector disclosed that the Polytechnic was making effort in stabilizing power so that students can conduct practicals unhindered. He noted that the cost of 33,000 liters of diesel which used to sell at N7.2M when he assumed office a few years ago now sell at over N30M, thereby putting enormous pressure on the finances of the institution.
To this end, the Rector disclosed that Management had engaged the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to stabilize power in the institution, while exploiting other alternative sources of stable power. The Rector also clarified the FEDPONEK Consult account, stating that it is a valid account used for monies that are not going into the TSA. He also pointed out that the account is auditable.
Meanwhile, the Rector has revealed that the money paid for the TEDC was inadequate going by the challenges of the directorate. He also disclosed that most of the lecturers in TEDC are adhoc staff that are hardly sustained by the money generated by the funds generated in the directorate.
Reacting to the call to scrap the O/Level verification, the Rector pointed out that it was misplaced because the verification was necessary in authenticating the O/Level of a candidate before he/she could be enrolled as a student.
He disclosed that the West African Examinations Council had effected a 100% increment in their verification fee, a reason the charges went up in the institution by only N1000, totaling N4500. The poly supremo clarified that the verification in his institution is completely digitized compared to the one done in other institutions which are manual or half-digital.
The Rector frontally addressed the rumpus Quick Response Code on students’ results, citing that it was a directive from the Federal Government through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). He cited the ugly incident of 2021 where four fake NYSC members forged the institution’s results, adding that it would assist students’ future employers or embassies to easily authenticate a result.
He also pointed out that the charge of N5000 on the result was necessitated by the cost of procuring the soft wares which are expensive because they are institutional compared to the individual versions which are less-expensive. The Rector however gave students the option of notifying Management in writing if they did not want the QR-Code on their results, while hinting about the consequences of opting out of the initiative.
Finally, the Rector charged the Student Consultative Council not to be gullible to misinformation or sinister plans to discredit the institution, adding that it would not be a good way of remembering their tenure.