By Onyenso Abraham Adims
#AbiaOnline

The Abia state commissioner for Finance, Mr. Obinna Oriaku has advised students to take their studies seriously in other to come out tops and be a bride highly sought for in the labour market. He made this disclosure when the new executives of the National Association of Abia state students, Abia state Polytechnic Aba, Chapter paid him a courtesy visit in his office. He said that the unavailable white collar jobs today has made it imperative for students to acquaint themselves with knowledge of skills for self sustainability.

He regretted that their school was on strike some weeks ago, and promised that government was working out lasting solutions to the problems that led to the industrial action some of which includes salary padding, over staffing which has over blown the wage bill of the institution and effected the student’s population from 22,000 to 12,000.

Mr. Oriaku disclosed that Government has commenced some reforms to reposition the institution to a glorious state and urged the students to be anti-corruption ambassadors by partnering the Government in exposing any anomalies noticed in the administration of the Abia state polytechnic to the government authorities.

The commissioner encouraged the students to support the administration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu in the state, adding that his administration means well, and will never allow any force run down the institution and promised to support them in their programmes.

Earlier in his speech, the president of the students, Mr. Ahiwe Josiah Chinonso thanked the Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu for working out modalities that ended the industrial action and express their happiness for being back in school and pledged to partner with the state government in implementing the reforms that will place the institution in a new pedestal.