There is fear and apprehension at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, (MAN),Oron as the Chief Adebayo Babatunde Sarumi's, six man repositioning committee finally takes over as the new management of the institution.
This is the first time in the over four decades of the academy that an interim management will be constituted to run the academy. The academy's Act does not have any provision for such team, rather it has provisions for an Administrator, Acting Rector or a substantive Rector.
Since the death of Joshua Okpo, the last incumbent rector in November 2015, the academy has been without a substantive rector.
The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi last Wednesday inaugurated a six-man Interim Management Committee to implement their reports which the same committee recommended few months ago for the repositioning of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.
Amaechi, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, said that the Federal Government had approved the implementation of the reports earlier submitted by the committee.
He said that the committee was earlier inaugurated in January this year to advise the government on the best way to restructure and reposition the academy, adding that the report had been submitted. Amaechi said
“It is my pleasure to once again welcome you to yet another inauguration on the same matter, the restructuring of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.
“As I said during your inauguration as a committee to advise government on how best to restructure and reposition the academy to make it comparable to successful academies worldwide.
“To achieve the vision and objectives of establishing the institution, members of the committee now transformed into an Interim Management Committee.
“We approach the Federal Government since May to give us the go ahead to implement your reports and we got the approval of the President for the committee to implement that report, “
Amaechi urged the newly appointed Rector of the Academy, Cdr. Duja Effedua to work with the committee, saying he could also act in that capacity after the assignment of the committee was over.
“The Federal Government had appointed the Rector with the idea to work with the committee and he can only act as a Rector after the committee is done with their assignment,’’ he said.
He said that the ministry would provide the necessary resources to enable the committee function properly.
Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Adebayo Sarumi said that the committee was willing to carry out the approved recommendations given to them.
He said that the committee would complete its task within the duration of six months as instructed.
Responding, Effedua, the Rector of MAN said he would assess the situation and challenges of the academy to enable him know what next to do.
At present, the Academy has two out of its three principal officers in persons of Dr Mkpandiok Ante Mkpandiok, who was given his appointment letter as Registrar in November 2015, Mr Folorunsho Kayode, who is on his last year out to retire as the Bursar, while only the position of a Rector was vacant. It is not clear yet whether the Amaechi committee will retain the two principal officers or sack them. More so, the committee recommendations is still not known and the new Rector; Cdr Duya Effedua was not a member of the six-man committee.
The new management team for MAN, Oron comprises of Chief Adebayo Sarumi, former MD of NPA, chairman, Captain Isa Biu, former, ES,NSC, Engr Olu Akinsoji,former Rector, MAN, ORON, Engr Greg Ogbeifun, Chairman Starz Shipyard, a representative from ministry of transports and Dr Kelvin Okonna, Director MANCONSULT at the academy.
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