Unions Appeal To Tinubu To Appoint Lemchi As VC Of Alvan Ikoku Federal University Of Education

As the search for a vice chancellor at the newly elevated Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (AIFUE), Owerri continues, a coalition of four house unions in the institution has asked President Bola Tinubu to consider appointing Professor  Stella Lemchi as the substantive vice chancellor.

The four unions, which include the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) transitioning to ASUU, the Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria (SSUCOEN) transitioning to SSANU, the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), signed a communique expressing their confidence in Prof. Lemchi, the acting deputy vice chancellor, to be promoted to VC.

The unions highlighted some of Professor Lemchi’s accomplishments at Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education in Owerri, including infrastructural upgrades such as prioritising hostel renovations, improving their ambiance and functionality, deploying the federal government revitalization fund to replace over 200 doors and windows, tiling the floors of the two hostels, completely rebuilding the toilets, and installing suitable and safe kitchens for the students.

The work also included improved water supply in the hostels, complete building repainting, and the installation of electrical work, wardrobes and beds.

According to the unions, the acting DVC also started building a Professors’ Block in the Shell Camp area and expanded the campus across the River Nworie. She has also fought valiantly to prevent further encroachment on the campus in Nworie. The Lemchi administration is currently working on plans to address ecological issues along the riverbank in order to allow the bridge to be used.

Regarding security enhancement, the unions stated that Prof Lemchi has restructured the university’s security architecture, as well as promoting best practices in the recruitment of student security operatives, arming them with adequate equipment and resources for effective performance, and that these efforts have significantly reduced security breaches, which were common prior to her appointment.

The unions believe that under her administration, staff welfare has improved dramatically, including clearing the backlog of staff promotions and conversions that had been lingering for years.

Furthermore, they stated that hundreds of non-teaching staff were converted and properly placed, including many who had earned higher qualifications on the job, as the conversions and promotions improved worker morale and motivation.

According to them, Prof Lemchi has been advocating for the welfare and proper placement of teaching staff during the transition process, including requesting that lecturers be given grace periods to obtain the qualifications required to maintain their positions rather than being abruptly demoted at the university.

On the Students’ Support Programme, the unions praised the acting DVC for implementing measures to combat student harassment as well as improving the NYSC mobilisation and certificate issuance process.

“Last year 3 batches of students were mobilized for service, a feat unheard of in the institution in nearly a decade. Her focus on students’ welfare includes streamlining clearance procedures, improving academic standards, engaging with parents and guardians and collaborating with the student’s union to speedily solve any challenges.

“On internal revenue generation, she implemented policies to boost internally generated revenue of the institution. One major plank of this was developing a seamless fee payment portal to close loopholes. She has also revitalised the business ventures in the University like the water factory and bakery.

Recently she received a 37-man team for resource verification of the university programmes from the NUC. Working with the unions, Lemchi has submitted a bill to the National Assembly to codify the law that established the university,” the unions concluded.