The Deputy Governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party, YPP, in the 2023 general election, Dr. Chima Desmond Anyaso, on Wednesday morning, reacted to the disturbing news of Abia Polytechnic Aba losing accreditation due to backlog of salaries owed workers of the institution.
Reacting to the situation when newsbuka.com, sought his opinion on the development, Dr. Anyaso who declined comments, later assured Abians that there is hope at the end of the tunnel.
The phone conversation between him and our reporter went as follows: –
Reporter: Good morning Sir.
Dr Anyaso: Good morning, how are you?
Reporter: I am fine Sir. I have been trying since yesterday to get you on phone in respect of the Abia Poly quagmire
Dr. Anyaso: So sorry about missing your several calls, it wasn’t my intention but I had a hectic schedule yesterday
Reporter: No problem, Sir. Well, I know you are aware that Abia Poly has just been de-accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), in other words, one can say that the tertiary institution is going to be closed down over non -payment of staff salaries for about 30 months
Dr.Anyaso: My brother, I don’t have anything to say for now about it, I am yet to read the government response. Until then, we watch.
Reporter: But Sir, going by your current status and as an Abian, your opinion matters too even as we wait for government response
Dr. Anyaso: Well, at this moment, I am a private businessman and should not be found meddling in the affairs of the state when we have a government in place, so I believe that such question should be directed to those in authority.
Reporter: But sir, if I may ask directly, you are in the race to become the deputy governor of the state and as a bonafide running mate of a frontline Abia Governorship candidate, I think you should have a say in this issue.
Dr. Anyaso: In that case, I will say yes. However, it is an unfortunate situation and disheartening. We are not ignorant of the situation in Abia Polytechnic, a citadel that has produced the creme de la creme that are doing exceptionally well in their fields of endeavour. A revered polytechnic like Abia Poly with the level it has attained shouldn’t be allowed to go down this way. If this happens In saner climes, heads would have rolled by now. We would have heard that someone has stepped down or been impeached.
Yesterday, it was ABSUTH, today it is Abia Poly. Who knows what it will be tomorrow, maybe, our State status will be revoked and we will be asked to be managed outrightly by the Federal government and given a sole administrator to oversee our affairs. God forbid. This is the highest low we have seen ourselves in as a State. We are in a serious situation. I want to believe that the situation lies in the hands of Abians who have the implicit right to take a decision that is, if to remain where they are or jump out from this sinking boat which is in the hands of dipsomaniac pilots.
As a party, I can only advise Abians and the Management of the Institution to be calm as YPP is coming to restore the shattered hopes and dreams of those affected by the unfortunate incident; There is Hope at the End of the Tunnel.
Reporter: Do you think your people would have done something different if you were to be in charge?
Dr. Anyaso: Of Course. There is no doubt that if we are in charge, one thing will be made clear. My principal and I have demonstrated in our private businesses that every worker deserves his or her wages. It is a sin even before God to owe those whom you have engaged to work and get paid by the day, week or end of every month. As a private business man, just like my principal, Engr. Enyinnaya Nwafor the incoming governor of this state by the Special Grace of God, we have a combined work force of well over five thousand (5000) workers and I can tell you that none of our workers will tell you that we owe him or her at the end of any month.
We cannot claim that things are working perfectly in Abia, these happenings are an accumulation of decadence in the State. We have cried as a people, begged that thing be done differently, but all the cries of the people have fallen on deaf ears. It is this same situation in Abia State that has forced some of us, the like minds and young progressives to come together and make a vow to give Abia her pride of place in 2023, and I want to promise you, giving a chance, YPP will restore the dignity of Ndi Abia in 2023.
Our main objective going into government of Abia State is to restore the dignity of Abians and our dear State. So we can proudly say wherever we are that we are Abians.
We are committed to change and restore the dignity of Ndi Abia if we are voted in 2023.
Reporter: So sir, what is your advice to both the workers and government on the way forward.
Dr. Anyaso : For the workers, I will advise them that they bear it for a short period; the owing of over 30 months of salary with fortitude as better days are ahead. We are appealing to the workers, all Abians to use this period to get their Permanent Voters Cards, so as to exercise their civic rights in the forthcoming general election, our PVCs remain the only weapon to vote in credible individuals with good track records to pilot the affairs of Abia as well as take the State to her el dorado.
On the side of the government, I can only advice that they do the needful to help the workers and their families to live for the next day and also consider the future of the numerous students including parents who must have suffered to send them to school for a better tomorrow, I mean the students. The government should also consider the implication of sending many people into the already saturated labour market.
Reporter: It’s been nice talking to you and I wish you success in your political endeavours.
Dr. Anyaso: Thank you.
(Recall that the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, on Tuesday, announced the withdrawal of the accreditation status of the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, due to non-payment of staff salaries and allowances for over 30 months).
(The Board said it took the decision when it realised that the management of the polytechnic was not committed to offsetting the arrears and ensuring regular payment of salaries of its workers).
