By Matthias Ogbagah
MOSOGAR: IRKED by corruption and irregularities that mar the recent appointment of a substantive College Librarian at the Delta State College of Education, Warri, the former President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chief Joe Omene, has raised serious concerns over the alleged procedural violations and breach of the guidelines of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
Speaking on behalf of D.r Mrs. Doris Aghoghovwia, the current Acting College Librarian, Chief Omene accused the College’s management of undermining due process and breaching the guidelines of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), which mandates that only candidates on CONPCASS 15 (Chief Librarian) are eligible for the position.
In a statement addressed to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Delta State Ministry of Higher Education, Chief Omene described how the vacancy advertisement placed by the College listed CONPCASS 14 (Principal Librarian) as the requirement for the position—contrary to the NCCE regulations. Meanwhile, the advertisement for the post of Bursar in the same edition correctly stated the requisite CONPCASS 15 as the requirement for the position.
“Even after my client’s quiet inquiry, what followed was a corrected advert that introduced yet another blunder—listing the position as ‘Registrar’ instead of ‘Librarian,'” Omene noted.
Despite these inconsistencies, Dr Mrs. Aghoghovwia, the only librarian on CONPCASS 15 in the institution, was shortlisted and interviewed. However, she was eventually passed over in favour of a junior officer on CONPCASS 14, a decision Omene labeled “a calculated injustice.”
He further pointed out that this was the third time such an injustice had occurred. In 2015, after the exit of the then College Librarian, Dr. (Mrs.) Awalale, the position was handed to a non-librarian, bypassing Mrs. Aghoghovwia who was next in rank. Again, in 2020, while acting in the same capacity, she was deemed unqualified and replaced with an external candidate.
“This is a disturbing trend that appears to target a hardworking and professionally qualified woman. It raises questions not only about fairness but about the integrity of the recruitment system,” said Chief Omene.
He called on the ICPC and the Ministry of Higher Education to launch an independent review into the matter and ensure justice is served.
“We must protect the sanctity of due process and uphold the principles of equity and merit in our public institutions,” he stressed.
Chief Omene concluded with a call to civil society, education stakeholders, and the media to remain vigilant and hold institutions accountable for transparent governance.
