Abia State Government has stated its readiness to investigate alleged admission racket going on at the School of Nursing during its Preliminary Test Sessions held recently.
The government disclosed this in a statement signed on Monday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication, Mr. Dodoh Okafor.
He pointed out that the government was worried about the allegations of bribery and other forms of process distortions going on at the School of Nursing.
Okafor called on parents with evidence to forward same to the government.
Reports revealed that the state government decided to investigate the allegation of corruption at the School of Nursing after some parents and students had during a protest in front of the Government House in Umuahia accused some workers of the School of Nursing of corruption and other forms of financial inducement and exploitation.
Okafor, who noted that Governor Alex Otti administration would be transparent in every process of governance, said every allegation would be investigated against officials of the School of Nursing.
He stressed that all accused persons would be called to narrate their side of the story.
The state government asssured that nobody would be shielded and that nothing would be swept under the carpet.
The statement read, “Abia State Government wishes to acknowledge the grievances expressed by certain students and parents, who were involved in the recent Preliminary Test Sessions (PTS) examinations into nursing schools owned by the state government.
“Being a government that is responsive and sensitive to the feelings of its citizens, the administration is concerned about the allegations of bribery and other forms of process distortions as the affected students and their parents have publicly made.
“Even then, responsible governments all over the world, it must be noted, act only on facts and established evidence, and not on hearsay and conjectures.
“As the officials who addressed the protesting students and parents in front of the Government House, Umuahia directed, the students and their parents are required to write a formal petition to Governor Otti, stating the issues and providing reliable, foolproof evidence to substantiate their allegations.
“Such petitions should reach the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor as quickly as they can be properly put together.
“We assure citizens that every allegation will be investigated and all accused called to present their side of the story. Nobody will be shielded and nothing will be swept under the carpet.
“Governor Otti is committed to running a transparent and sincere administration where international standard practices will be adhered to in all issues regarding service delivery. He has already directed that nobody should honour any illegitimate request allegedly coming from him.”
