*Pioneer officers need no interview for appointment, he says
*Attributes Opposition to people warming up for 2023 elections
The immediate past Commissioner of Higher Education in Delta State, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare has said that the appointment of his wife, Mrs. Stella Muoboghare, as the Registrar for the newly-established Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro is in order.
Muoboghare’s defence is coming on the heel of the protest by a group known as Coalition of Delta Youth, CDY, which had accused the former Commissioner of using his official position to impose his wife as a registrar on the new University.
In a statement signed by the chairman, Comrade Mudiaga Abiri and made available to newsmen shortly after their meeting held at Ughelli recently, the group alleged that the act of the former Commissioner in influencing the appointment of his wife as registrar of the University is against the public service rule of an officer using his public position to enrich a member of his family, especially when there are more qualified officers readily available for the position.
The statement read in part: “Our attention was drawn to the self-centred and selfish interest of the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Mouboghare. He strategically and corruptly arm-twisted the entire State, made himself available and was appointed the Chairman of a transition Committee to oversee to the transformation of the Delta State newly-created University of Agbor and Ozoro, which were College of Education, Agbor and Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro.
“To our dismay, the selfishness of the Commissioner for Higher Education and Committee Chairman was let out of the bag, when his wife (Mrs. Mouboghare Stella) a Principal Assistant Registrar of about two years experience and a Staff of Delta State University, Abraka, was appointed as the Registrar of the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, without attending any interview or screening was employed by the Commission, despite the current Registrar who was a Deputy Registrar of many years standing and was appointed a Registrar for a single term of five years. This is the height of corruption, which is against the public service rules of using your public position to enrich your family members.
“We are calling on His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa, to as a matter of urgency, rescue these three Universities from the hands of this over-zealous Commissioner before he cause troubles that will derail the taking off of the Universities especially as it concerns the appointment of Principal Officers and down-grading of all existing staff to suit his interest and hidden agenda. Making the existing staff to re-apply for job in the University will not go well for the existing staff as they should be treated with dignity and they are staff that are already working in a Higher Institution.”
However, reacting to the group’s allegations, Muoboghare who said his official reaction is “I just dey laugh”, added that as pioneer officers they were not expected to be screened nor interviewed.
He also attributed the protest by the group to people who are warming up for 2023 election, adding that they are exploiting the advantages and disadvantages which they have.
Excerpts from the telephone interview:
There has been allegation against you that you use your official position to impose your wife as a registrar in the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro…
Ok, let me give you my official reaction. The official reaction is “I just dey laugh”, “I just dey laugh”. When you interviewed me, my response is “I just dey laugh”.
You are a notable figure in the country as far as education is concerned and even beyond education…
And you really think I should react to the fact that somebody was appointed as a registrar and the person is my wife, then I should engage people in such discussion? That is belittling me now.
You are a peace maker and you know the saying that little things matter…
No, no, no, if you observed my style, I allow such things to blow, blow them well, well. It is when you lose steam, I start. So, they will continue to go to blogs and social media. I always encourage them. When you lose your steam, you can do no harm. I enjoy them.
You know this issue could be very volatile…
There is nothing volatile there. When institutions are established, officers are appointed. What is volatile there? One million people would want to be vice chancellors, we appointed three, one million want to be registrar and bursars, we appointed only three, one million want to be professors, how many can you appoint? The one who does not get it will always be angry. Even the one who does not become governor will be angry. But don’t forget that 2023 is not far away from now. People are warming up for 2023 using all the advantages and disadvantages they have. My reaction is “I just they laugh”.
But what about the allegation that there was no interview conducted before your wife was appointed?
That is why I’m still laughing. Was there interview for anyone? All the vice chancellors appointed for the three Universities and registrars for the three Universities, bursars and librarians, were they interviewed? These are pioneer officers.
The group is also alleging that the present registrar of the Polytechnic which is being transformed to the University is very eminently qualified…
Then, they should push that case now. They should push the case for the registrar. Was there no registrar in Agbor? Well, my official reaction is “I just dey laugh”.
It would be recalled that a few months ago when recruitment of key officers into the three new Universities – Dennis Osadebey University, Anwai, University of Delta, Agbor and Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, the government made it clear that any staff who is currently in the parent school, wishing to be employed in the new University, must be appropriately qualified.
The New Diplomat learnt that it was on this basis that the former rector of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Prof. (Mrs.) Stella Chinye Chiemeke was appointed the Vice Chancellor of University of Delta, Agbor.
All Attempts to reach out to the Head of Service in the State to clarify whether or not the present registrar of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro who is reported to be eminently qualified could have been appointed the registrar of the emerging University, Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, were unsuccessful.
However, a high ranking officer in the office of the Head of Service who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said that the registrar of the Polytechnic could petition the Head of Service and or the State House of Assembly to complain of his being denied the opportunity to be elevated even when eminently qualified.
The New Diplomat also recalled that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in October, 2019, created a new office of the Girl Child Matters and appointed his daughter, Barr. Mrs. Marilyn Daramola as Senior Special Assistant for the office. The office was appropriated a whooping N800 million budget in 2020.
Governor Okowa told protesting Deltans then that he had no apology for appointing his daughter as his Senior Special Assistant, adding that she was qualified for the position.
