Reassures Stakeholders On Commitment To Duty

Looking calm and unruffled but grappling with the challenges and demands of his office and duties, the Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Commodore Duja Effedua Emmanuel has disclosed that the opportunity to serve as Rector of the Academy is a very unique opportunity given him by the Federal government to rescue the Academy from predators and vultures who hitherto preyed on the Academy.

Speaking during a media parley, the Rector, accompanied by his management staff, stated that he met the Academy as a haven for contractors and on the verge of being delisted by the International Maritime Organization, IMO.

He said he was threatened with a coffin and charms at the gate of the Academy when he assumed duty as Rector adding that a cow was also buried alive as part of efforts to scare him from the Academy. Coming on the heels of the demise of two previous Rectors, this was enough to scare away cowards.

The Rector and Chief Engr. Gupta briefing the Minister at the Engine Room Simulator

According to the Rector “I told them that they were wasting their time. My pain is that they wasted a whole cow which could have been deliciously served to hungry persons”

“Working with the Interim Management Committee, IMC, alongside such eminent personalities like chief Adebayo Sarumi, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun,  Engr. Olu Akinsoji and others was indeed a grand preparation for me to work at the Academy. This great maritime personalities with the benefit of hindsight drew the roadmap and prepared the developmental framework which we are executing at MAN”.

“In three years we have achieved what they could not achieve in 39 years and I’ve become the enemy of people who want access to the account of the Academy.  These are people who were used to free money which they steal, loot or siphon from the Academy under one guise or another”

The Rector with Reps on facility tour at the Academy

“Their pain is that we have blocked all revenue leakages, refused the award of meaningless contracts and stopped patronage of idle, parasitic persons who believe the Academy is their Cash Cow”. They are fighting back with lies and baseless petitions which have no substance based on the figment of their imagination. I have also joined them in petition writing because I can also write petition, let the concerned agencies investigate”.

The Jubril Adamu they are mentioning was a staff of the Academy who has been sacked after undergoing investigations and his unsatisfactory responses to queries he was issued.

He confessed and pleaded that he had personal problems and needed money which is why he resorted to blackmail and extortions in the Academy.

“He did not contest his sack because he knows he has no case. He is aware that his excesses were over tolerated in the Academy”.

“Any money that passed through his account was duly authorized as accommodation, transport feeding and other logistics of visitors and government functionaries who came to the Academy on working visit and or other official assignments.

Jubril Adamu

Like I said, Jubril Adamu was a desk officer who was recommended for sack by the former Bursar and others because they knew him as a man of doubtful and unstable character who went as far as lying with his mother’s health issues.

He got funds but went drinking and frolicking in town. Every kobo that passed through his account was duly authorized for accommodation, feeding, transport and other logistics for guests of the Academy. He faced panel of inquiry set to look into his issues (copies of queries issued Jubril and his replies sighted)

“Jubril is a serial blackmailer, extortionist, bully, cheat and liar. He has been sacked for unruly behaviour and infraction by him of Civil Service Rules, CSR.

 Salaries

“When people are desperate and confused they spew all kinds of stories both the unthinkable and unimaginable come out of their polluted hearts and minds. How can anybody say I refused to pay salaries when all federal government employees are under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Management System, IPPIS?

“There are issues with the payment platform which has affected Federal Government agencies which is being addressed in the office of the accountant-general of the federation. I am also an employee. Such utterances shows how shallow minded and frustrated some persons are.

Swimming Pool of the Academy

Savings

 Within two years, because of the disciplinary measures were adopted, we were able to save for the academy overN1.5billion naira. This is money that would have been stolen, shared or spent one way or the other without any impact on the Academy. They are pained because we stopped their “Solemn Assembly” where they use to share money. Everything we have done is from our savings, financial prudence and value-for-money initiatives which we have adopted.

This is why they hate me but I have a job to do and I will do my work no matter what anybody says or feels.

Training Equipment

Apart from the modern simulators which are fully functional in the Academy, we recently received the Ocular Vision Simulator while the underwater helicopter simulator is expected soon. We didn’t borrow, we didn’t steal but some persons prefer that instead of investing in training equipment, recruiting qualified lecturers, building infrastructures and installing facilities, such money should be shared to them. The University of Uyo is there and many other institutions what have they done?

CSR

Under our redefined Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiatives we provided the community with diesel to avert mass burial which happened some time ago because of power failure and lack of diesel to power the generator at the general hospital. We donated computers, build ICT centres, donated our former classroom chairs and desks and much more yet some persons say we didn’t do anything and so we will not do anything anymore in terms of CSR.

MAN Cadets in Class

Threats

Every day I get messages on my phone from people I do not know threatening me that my stubbornness will cost me more trouble. I have reported to the relevant security agencies and all such persons will be tracked and prosecuted just the way we tracked and apprehended a journalist who tried to blackmail me. I cannot be blackmailed nor intimidated, our books are open, our hands are clean and there is nothing to worry about.

Assurance

We reassure our stakeholders and well-wishers that we will not relent on our efforts to reposition the Academy and make it a world-class maritime training institution. The Academy was in shambles when I assumed duty as Rector. The hostels and classrooms were a in a terrible mess, unqualified lecturers, over-bloated staff and so many things were not in place. There were staff with degrees in theatre Arts, Forestry and others which were not relevant to delivering the mandate of the Academy.

Today we have remodeled the classrooms and our hostels can compete very favorably with any hostels in any institutions in the world.

The Rector of MAN and SOAN President at the Academy

Our classrooms are not local classrooms but lecture theatres which are internet compliant and from which you can broadcast to any part of the world anytime any day and so we’ve been able to turn around the institution and a lot of persons are not happy with what we have done, they will rather that we share money to them and ignore development of the Academy.

This is part of the reasons which held the Academy down for over 30 years. People don’t want progress, they want money in their pockets but we have refused to do that and that is why they are expressing their frustration and pains in so many ways. They are writing petitions, they are calling names they are lying and vomiting around but we will not relent, we will continue to do work as assigned by government.

Corruption Fighting Back

What is happening at the Academy is a classic case of corruption fighting back. Government does not give money to MDAs to share. My duty is to restructure and reposition the Academy not to share money or patronize idle, jobless individuals who think the Academy is their farm.

A lot of persons are worried about my continued stay at the Academy. They are hiring petition writers who specialize in fiction writing. We are going to respond very profusely and we will do everything possible within available legal means.

We will follow due process and everybody who is saying anything will have to prove and testify in due course.

The courts are on strike, as soon as they resume you will see fireworks. We are going to summon, arrest and prosecute some journalists who have been writing all kind of fiction and they will come and prove the things they have written.

Silent endorsement

We are aware of meetings being held in private homes. Unfortunately, these are persons who ordinarily should caution, direct, lead and guide wayward person aright. Regrettably, some leaders by their silent endorsements are also itching for a slice of the meagre funds of the Academy. The coming days will be interesting because we know who is doing what.

Recognition

Before now, the Academy was desolate and dejected. From our modest efforts, the IMO has recognized us and donated books to the school. The master mariners, the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, SOAN and other agencies are supporting the Academy. We have received support from a lot of concerned stakeholders and we really appreciate them but those people who are looking for access to the coffers of the Academy I pity them because under my watch that will not happen.

Come and bid for contract or come and tell us what you can do, of course as a Nigerian you are entitled to do that but if you think you’ll pass through the back door, not under my watch”

“I came to MAN to restructure and reposition the Academy and make it a world-class institution and that is exactly  what I will do.