The Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education Nigeria (SSUCOEN) Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze Chapter on Monday, 26th July 2021 elected Comrade Anayo Nwankwo as the new Chairman to pilot the affairs of the Union for a single tenure of five years.
The election, which was monitored by the National President, SSUCOEN, Comrade Danladi Ali Msheliza, Zonal Chairmen of the Union from different Colleges, and midwived by the Electoral Committee headed by Evangelist Ebenezer Okoli, saw to the emergence of Okoli Eugenia C as Vice Chairman, Uzowulu Ugochukwu P, Secretary, Ulogu Kenneth, Assistant Secretary, Dave-Okoli Ngozika M, Treasurer, Onu Agatha N, Financial Secretary, Maduadichie Angelina A, Auditor, Onwudinjo Emeka, PRO, and Ofoma Olivia Ezife as Woman Leader.
The election, held at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Auditorium of the College, was adjudged free and fair by both internal and external observers, as the exercise followed all due processes of accreditation of SSUCOEN members, presentation of manifestoes by the contestants, transparent voting, collation and declaration of results. Some of the voters admitted that the rule of one man, one vote was strictly adopted.
Earlier before the election, the National President, SSUCOEN, Comrade Danladi Ali Msheliza, on arrival at the College led Zonal SSUCOEN leaders from some of the sister Colleges to a courtesy visit to the Management. He applauded the Provost, Dr. Tessy Okoli for the peaceful coexistence between the staff and the College Management, the level of infrastructural development in the College and described SSUCOEN as a responsible staff union guided by the ethos of peaceful dialogue. He further congratulated the Registrar, B C Nkah and the Bursar, Ethelbert Echedo on their recent appointments and urged them to remain worthy ambassadors of the Union in their new offices.
While welcoming the SSUCOEN President and Zonal leaders of the Union, the Provost, Dr Tessy Obumneme Okoli, commended the Union for the role played in ensuring that Provosts of institutions emerge from the Colleges. She described herself as a unionist, and assured the excos that staff welfare has remained the priority of her administration.
The Provost explained that on assumption of office, she ensured that arrears of salaries of some staff were cleared. In addition to this was the payment of degree teaching to all categories of staff that fall within the specified years.
She noted that several staff that were stagnated at the lower cadre, after they had obtained higher qualifications were also upgraded and others redesignated. She assured the SSUCOEN leadership of her readiness to promote the welfare of all staff, noting that a motivated staff is a productive staff.
After the declaration of results by the head of the Electoral Committee, Evangelist Ebenezer Okoli, the National President, Comrade Danladi Ali Msheliza, congratulated the newly elected SSUCOEN EXCOS of FCE(T) Chapter and advised them to discharge their duties diligently and embrace selfless service for the overall interest of members.
He advised them to steer clear from crisis and confrontation, but always explore the option of dialogue in their dealings with the College Management.
He further advised the newly elected Chairman to follow the footprints of his predecessor, Comrade Ethelbert Echedo, and watch the Union move to a greater height.
The newly elected executives took their oath of allegiance and were sworn in accordingly by the National President, SSUCOEN.
The election was witnessed by the College Registrar, B.C Nkah and the Bursar, Comrade Ethelbert Echedo.
