Exposed: The Alleged Many Fraudulent Activities Of Dr. Etukudoh, Provost Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology Science, Jos

Yakubu Busari

A group under the name Concerned Plateau Youth (CPY) has raised alarm over alleged many fraudulent activities happening at the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology Science under the leadership of the school’s provost, Dr. Obong N.S. Etukudoh whom they accused of illegal employment, keeping of over 250  ghosts workers who receives salaries every month, as well uncovering that the provost’s daughter who also receives monthly salary as staff of the college without knowledge of the school location in Jos University Teaching Hospital,  JUTH.

 

The youth group made its position known in Jos on Thursday during a press briefing, Chairman of the group, Sunday Dasan stated that since Etukudo assumed as the Provost in 2008, the Institution has continued to witness deteriorating conditions as he has never laid any block of building in the school till date.

 

Dasan accused the federal ministry of Health at the National and state for collecting bribe from Dr. Obong Etukudoh were some top government officials connived to perpetrate high corrupt practices in the institution.

 

According to the leader of the group, who also complained of lopsided appointments going on in the college, he said he is appealing to President, Muhammad Buhari, the National Assembly and Elders of Plateau state to rescue the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology Science Jos from Dr. Obong N. S Etukudoh, its Provost.

 

The school which is located at Jos University Teaching Hospital ( JUTH) permanent site is to train both Laboratory Technicians and Foreign graduates. However, Dasan alleged that students from other parts of the country pay mandatory school fees of over #170,000, those from Dr. Etukudo’s state, (Akwa Ibom), don’t pay fees at all.

 

The group also alleged that the Etukudo handles the college like his own personal business centre as funds accruing to the college are diverted to his personal use, a situation that is said to have led the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s intervention which also led to the prosecution of the Provost at the High Court of Justice, Jos.

 

The group further alleged that all the 13 head of departments were headed by non-Plateau indigenes which include; the Provost and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. N.S Etukudo from Akwa Ibom, Deputy Provost Administration Mr. Fredrick Olowo Ondo State, Deputy Provost Academic -Mr. Reginald O. Ejinaka from Enugu State, Head of Administration Victoria Onwuemene from Kogi State, Head of Planning – Udom Nkereuwem Akwa Ibom State, Head of Accounts Nkereuwem Asuquo Akwa Ibom State, Head of works Cletus Usendok Akwa Ibom State, Head of Student Affairs Mbat Enoh Akwa Ibom State, Head of Legal Udoh inrne Akpan Akwa Ibom State, Head of Library Joshua Abaka Nasarawa State, Head of ICT lye Wariso Rivers State, Head of Procurement Demtoe Ernest Plateau State, Head of Audit Agboide Sunday Edo State.

 

The group added that the Etukudo has overstayed in office for 11 years as Provost which is against the edict establishing the Institution and wondered if he is above the law because he is serving the third term as Provost of the college and it is been alleged that he has always bragged that he has 13 more years to go.

 

The group further alleged that under Etukudo’s leadership, public service rule has not been observed because according to the group, he should have been at least suspended as he has been in and out of prison twice.

 

According to the youth group, “No observation of federal character principle in the College e. g Akwa Ibom where the provost comes from has the highest numbers of staff with more than fifty percent of the workforce.

 

The College has more than 100 staff on the payroll from Akwa Ibom State that doesn’t come to work completely; they only appear when there is verification.  His daughter, Sifon Etukudoh is on the payroll of the College but does not even know the location of the institution. Drivers on official duty are denied their duty tour allowance which has accumulated into several millions of naira including his driver who normally sleeps in the car whenever they are on official duty because of lack of payment of his D.T.A.

 

They also said that Students of the College do pay student union government dues (SUG) but he refused to allow them to form the SUG in the College, where is their money going to?

 

Other things they stated is that he pays undue allowance into account of some staff from Akwa Ibom while those from other states are been neglected, there is Indiscriminate placement of grade levels/step between Akwa Ibom and other states in the institution.

 

Indiscriminate approval of study leaves between Akwa Ibom state indigene and other states indigenes in that college.

 

The permanent site of the college is in a sorry state of condition which needs urgent attention of the appropriate authorities to avoid building collapse and loss of lives as the dilapidated structures are still being used for official work.

 

The security personnel of the institution (strike force) their allowance has not being paid for the past twelve (12) months”.