by Moses Adediran, Enugu

Chairman of Nsukka LG council of Enugu State Barr. Tony Ugwu has decry that the high rate of ghost workers in his council's payroll could have lead to economic chaos as they have been defrauding the LG of 60% monthly.
Ugwu said this while briefing newsmen on his performance within the past six months, he said that recent workers verification exercise had shown that most workers of the council are students, traders, dead and mad persons on the street.

“The council has saved eight million naira from ghost workers who have been defrauding it.
“When I assumed office in January worker's monthly salary was thirty four thousand naira but after the verification it dropped to twenty eight million,' he said.

He said that as part of his commitment to sanitize the council all loopholes used in diverting the council's internally generated revenues have been blocked.
“In a handover paper to me by the past administration it shows that it generates seven million naira annually.
'But you will not believe it, that within six months the council now generates about fifteen million naira.
“You can see that it is no longer business as usual, as every revenue accruing to the council are paid in approve banks,” he said.

He however, said that in spite his desire to improve the internal generated revenue consultants now over-taxed or trample on the rights of residents.
“I have informed residents that if they their fundamental rights violated upon by revenue drive officers they should report such case to my office.

Ugwu said that the new market in Nru was to decongest Nsukka main market stressing that the market has been equipped with facilities such as police post, bole-hole and electricity to enhance traders' welfare and security.
“The new market has also added to the IGR of the council,” he said.
The council boss said that workers are now been paid up to date stressing that only those that do not come to work but expect salary that would complain of non payment of salary.

“In line with state government directive of no work no pay any worker of the council who fail to come to work at least seven times in a month will not be paid.
“It is a crime in the sight of God for one to reap where he or she did not sow,” he said.
On agriculture, he said that the council has procured over one thousand bags of fertilizer to be distributed to farmers who are registered members of AFAN.

“Before any farmer gets fertilizer or loan, we must see his or her farm.
“Gone are the days when fertilizer and loans meant for real farmers are hijacked by political farmers,' he said.
Ugwu listed some of the projects carried out to include, construction of new pavilion in Nsukka government field, repairs and grading of rural roads, building of new primary schools, distribution of computer sets and exercise books to schools, building of new health centres and equipping it with drugs, regular payment of workers salary as well as enhancing environmental sanction of Nsukka town.

“It is because of our attention to health that Nsukka Focal Malaria officer in the, Mr. Jone Eze, came first in the federation, in the recent World Malaria Day celebration.
The LG boss expressed appreciation to media for assisting him to sensitize residents on his programmes and activities since his assumption of office.
“Without the media our little achievement could have not been impossible

by Chidiebere Iwuoha, Owerri

A professor of Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Prof. (Lady) Beatrice Ngozi Anyanwu has outlined the way forward in instilling moral ethics in the university community.
In her lecture delivered as the 17th Public Lecture of FUTO entitled “Instilling Moral Ethics in the university community. A Sine Qua, Non for National Growth and Development”, he stressed the need for moral re-engineering, re-orientation of value system; evolvement of policies that would destroy the current bad and corrupt value system in the society by government and managers of educational system; Enforcement of stringent rules and registration on standard and discipline; strengthening of counseling units in the university; lending of sincere helping hand to institutions on all matters concerning cultism by Government; Enforcement of law on examination malpractices. Giving free hand to universities to conduct their private admission examinations and screen their new intakes within the standard set by JAMB.

Others are the development of political will by Government and school administrators to restore sanity in the sector and motivate the students by providing them with healthy learning environment; Merit in admissions without ethnicity and state based criteria and introducing courses that meet the challenges of 21st century economy; Revival of culture of scholarship and bursary; checking of corruption and mismanagement of funds in the university system and Honouring of Government / ASUU agreement to avoid incessant strikes.

The rest are ensuring that people in government lead by example and eradicate sacred cow syndrome which has frustrated every effort made to clear up Nigerian society; Making serious efforts to instill moral ethics in the university system; Avoiding immoral and unethical practices aimed at passing NUC accreditation exercises by universities and a call to National repentance, maybe prayer, in which Nigerians should imbibe the spirit of God.
Prof Anyanwu, through the above mentioned ways, has argued that the survival of Nigeria as a viable society would depend on the quality of her educational system. This is because the socio-political and economic development of a nation is determined by the quality and level of the educational attainment of the population.

She also argued that instilling moral discipline in the university community is a sine qua non to the improvement in the quality of Nigeria 's educational system. This is because it makes the youths to differentiate rights from wrongs.
Prof Anyanwu made it clear that it is only when one has this type of orientation that one realizes the futility of acquiring wealth unnecessarily and the joy of hard work rather than wealth. It is only then that one begins to appreciate knowledge rather than money. It gives the individual the ability to analyze problems and make thoughtful decisions. It creates the ability to re-order priorities based on how they will benefit the society and not how much they will benefit individuals”.