Lecturers Petition DNS, Accuse School of Nursing Aba Principal of Corruption and Mismanagement, Call for Urgent Action | #NwokeukwuMascot

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Lecturers of School of Nursing Aba File Petition Against Principal Over Alleged Misconduct  | #NwokeukwuMascot

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Umuahia, Abia State – A formal complaint has been lodged by lecturers of the School of Nursing, Aba, to the Director of Nursing Services at the Ministry of Health, Umuahia, Abia State, regarding the alleged overbearing attitude and misconduct of the institution's principal, Mrs. Ihuoma Nwosu. The letter, jointly signed by the lecturers, accuses the principal of engaging in numerous unprofessional practices and demands an immediate investigation into her actions.

We reported in November 2023 the abnormalities happening at the Aba School of Nursing, how students petitioned the police, accusing the Principal, Mrs. Ihuoma Nwosu, of a bribery scandal.

The lecturers, in their petition, detailed a series of grievances they believe have undermined the integrity of the school, including extortion from students, mismanagement of school resources, and unilateral decision-making that they claim has hampered the institution's progress.

The complaint outlines several instances of misconduct allegedly perpetrated by Mrs. Nwosu, including:

1. Failure to Delegate Duties: The principal reportedly withholds tasks from her staff, allegedly to keep her personal dealings hidden.

2. Sole Control Over Examination Budgets: It is claimed that Mrs. Nwosu handles all exam-related finances without transparency or involvement from other staff members.

3. Corruption in Exam Centers: According to the lecturers, Mrs. Nwosu has been using "porous and corrupt exam centers," leading to the production of underqualified students. 

4. Improper Use of Students for Registration: The principal is accused of assigning students to handle tasks related to professional exam registration, duties that should have been performed by the staff.

5. Lack of Resit Examinations: Mrs. Nwosu allegedly failed to conduct resit exams before allowing students to sit for professional exams.

6. Unilateral Pre-Professional Examination Planning: The petitioners claim that the principal plans and conducts pre-professional examinations without consulting the lecturers, further stating that she sets the questions herself.

7. Mismanagement of Transcript and Certification Processes: The lecturers accuse Mrs. Nwosu of being solely in charge of transcripts and certificates, without providing any form of accountability for these processes.

8. Exorbitant Fees: According to the complaint, the principal collected ₦40,000 per student for pre-professional exams and another ₦1,000,000 for conducting the examinations, all without involving the academic staff.

9. Premature Exam Resit: The lecturers allege that Mrs. Nwosu conducted a resit examination the day after the release of pre-professional exam results, despite objections from the teaching staff.

10. Unhealthy School Environment: It is further alleged that Mrs. Nwosu has shown little concern for the deteriorating condition of the school environment, focusing instead on her personal financial gain.

11. Encouraging Indiscipline Among Students: The lecturers assert that the principal’s nonchalant attitude has fostered a culture of indiscipline within the student body.

12. Examination Malpractices: The petition alleges that Mrs. Nwosu conducted the most recent pre-professional exams in a center notorious for malpractices, raising suspicions about her involvement in these irregularities.

13. Neglect of Accreditation Processes: Mrs. Nwosu has reportedly shown no interest in the upcoming accreditation process for the school, despite repeated warnings from the staff.

14. Maladministration of Professional Exams: Some students allegedly participated in the pre-professional exams without clearing their resit requirements, while the results of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) exams were delayed for weeks, exacerbating the potential for malpractices.

Copy of the Letter

In their letter, the lecturers requested immediate action from the Director of Nursing Services to curtail Mrs. Nwosu’s alleged excesses, which they argue have brought the institution into disrepute. The lecturers called for an external exam officer to oversee the upcoming second-year examinations, citing concerns that the principal’s involvement could lead to further mismanagement.

The petition also emphasized that the School of Nursing should not be run like a private business but as a public institution subject to the regulations of the civil service.

Sources within the Ministry of Health revealed that the Director of Nursing Services has acknowledged the receipt of the complaint and has initiated steps to address the situation. It was further noted that the transition from the former Director of Nursing, Mrs. Nwakaego Onyeukwu, to the newly appointed Director, Mrs. Ekwuribe Charity, may bring about a shift in how such matters are handled moving forward.

Mrs Nwankego Onyeukwu handing over to Mrs Charity Ekwuribe.

Mrs. Charity, whose responsibility now includes upholding the integrity of the department, is expected to oversee the resolution of the issue and ensure that proper disciplinary actions are taken, if necessary. The lecturers hope that their complaint will lead to the restoration of order and professionalism within the School of Nursing, Aba, as they continue to seek a conducive environment for both staff and students.