By Our Correspondent

THE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic – Institute of Continuing Education, ASUPICE, Asaba chapter, has given the Delta State Government a 21-day ultimatum to probe alleged illegal promotion, mismanagement, maladministration and unethical leadership in the institution.

The ultimatum was contained in a letter titled, “Unethical leadership and illegal promotion of staff in the Institute of Continuing Education,” signed by the chairperson, ASUPICE, Asaba chapter, Com. F.C Obiuwevbi addressed to the Commissioner, Higher Education, Asaba and made available to our correspondent, the union said: “If these issues are not resolved within 21days, the Union may be compelled to take other legal means to seek redress or to achieve her goals.”

The Union alleged that funds allocated to the Institute had not been accounted for and urged the government to investigate how funds received by the Institute through subventions, development levies, tuition, matriculation fees, WAEC fees, extension, identity cards and other levies were utilized  since 2010.

According to the letter, the Union further alleged that, “most projects that the monies are meant for were given little or no attention.  It is indeed surprising that despite the State’s benevolence in giving subvention,  only the Office of the Director gets impress regularly. The Director is the purchasing officer and at the same time, the executor of all projects in the Institute and its branches.”

The Union alleges further that in a bid to continue with mediocrity, force submission and loyalty, the leadership of the institution had appointed unqualified persons as Heads of Departments (HODs),while a favorite officer was being projected  as deputy director instead of the most senior and qualified officer in the Institute.

Attempts by National Reformer to clarify these allegations against the management of the Institute proved abortive.