The PAMO University of Medical Sciences has clarified its decision not to present its Vice Chancellor before the Rivers State House of Assembly's Ad Hoc Committee. The committee is investigating the state government's scholarship arrangement with the institution. According to the university, the exercise is politically motivated. The university had initially indicated its willingness to cooperate with the investigation by sending a representative on September 16.
The university alleged that the panel declined to recognise the representative or receive documents submitted on behalf of the institution. This was stated in a public notice signed by the university's Registrar, Peter Akubuiroh. The notice explained that the university attempted to cooperate but was rebuffed. The university accused the Assembly of prejudging it by publicly alleging mismanagement of scholarship funds before establishing the facts.
The university stated that the House of Assembly had already publicly accused it of mismanaging State scholarship funds without proof. The university demanded a retraction and apology, which have not been addressed. The circumstances surrounding the probe raised concerns about the purpose and conduct of the investigation. This prompted the institution to seek legal protection, which remains pending in court.
On the scholarship arrangement, PAMO maintained that it had fulfilled its obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding governing the programme. The university explained that funds appropriated for the scholarship scheme were channelled through the Rivers State Ministry of Education and other relevant government agencies. This was to meet the state's obligations to eligible students.
The scholarship arrangement covers tuition, feeding, and accommodation for Rivers State indigenes admitted to the university on merit. Beneficiaries have been trained in various fields, including Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, and Medical Laboratory Science. The university stated that about 600 current Rivers State scholarship beneficiaries are enrolled at the institution.
The university warned that the dispute could disrupt the academic programmes of the beneficiaries. For the past four months, the university has continued to keep these students on campus despite outstanding school-fee payments. The university has borne the costs of their tuition, feeding, accommodation, and related expenses.
The Assembly had issued a warrant for the arrest of the Vice Chancellor over his alleged repeated failure to honour invitations to appear before the committee. The committee had summoned the Vice Chancellor several times to explain the utilisation of funds released under the scholarship arrangement. The Ad Hoc committee alleged that the university received more than N29 billion from the Rivers State Government under the scheme.
Key points
- The university received over N29 billion from the Rivers State Government under the scholarship scheme.
- The university has 600 current Rivers State scholarship beneficiaries enrolled at the institution.
- The dispute may disrupt the academic programmes of the scholarship beneficiaries.
