…Union Leaders Cautioned
By Patrick Titus, Uyo
The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has expressed worry over the non-recognition of the Akwa Ibom State University of Education, Afaha Nsit by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the 2026/2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exercise.
The Center shared its concern during a press briefing by its Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong who expressed the concern on Tuesday at the CHRAN office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, while assessing the state of tertiary education in the state under the administration of Governor Umo Eno.
CHRAN pointed out that the institution has no Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers to reflect its current upgraded status, adding that the institution also has no Governing Council, no Masterplan, no Academic Brief and the law establishing it is still wrapped in secrecy.
The Center stated that the 2026 Appropriation Law of Akwa Ibom State captured the College of Education instead of the University of Education, thereby making it difficult for workers in the institution to be paid their salaries due to the uncertainty of the actual status of the institution.
The CHRAN Director faulted the running of the institution with “acting Provost and Chief Administrator” positions, saying that such positions are alien to University structure, noting that universities are run by Vice-Chancellors, warning that if the anomalies are not urgently corrected, it would further undermine the recognition of the institution by JAMB, National Universities Commission, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and other federal regulatory agencies.
The rights group cautioned unions’ leaders of the institution particularly, the leadership of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, for engaging in actions capable of further eroding the institution and reducing it to a laughing stock.
The Center stated that in recent times, instead of the leadership of the union to constructively engage management and government on the uncertainty of the status of the institution, it rather engages in malicious and destructive media campaigns against the past leadership of the institution, which laid the solid foundation leading to the upgrade of the institution.
The Center warned that if the union leaders are not reined in, the good efforts of the state Governor in the institution might be jeopardized.
It further urged the union leaders to work in synergy with the administration of Governor Umo Eno and promote peace and harmony in the institution in order to actualise the dream of the Governor.
