Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has constituted a committee to look into the lingering issue of accreditation in some of the state-owned tertiary institutions.

The committee is headed by Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Konbowei Benson, while the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Gentle Emelah, is secretary.

Other members of the committee are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ebibai, Vice Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, Rector, Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, Dr. Promise Mebine and the Principal Secretary, Government House, Iroro Komonibo.

Speaking when he met with Heads and Registrars of state-owned higher institutions in Government House, Yenagoa, on Monday, Governor Diri noted that the move became necessary to secure the future of students and graduates of the institutions.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as restating the state government’s commitment to development of the educational sector and that everything would be done within its power to address the pending issues.

While sympathising with students and graduates of the affected institutions, the governor cautioned against demonstrations, stressing that dialogue remains the best way to resolve issues.

His words: “You know that government has competing needs but because we have taken education as a priority, we would not allow our tertiary Institutions to go down.

“The committee must report to me every week because from what I have heard from some of the heads of the affected institutions, there is no time anymore. So this committee has just two weeks to work. Then we would look at what we can do to assist all the higher institutions.”

The panel’s terms of reference include ensuring that all programmes of tertiary institutions in the state are accredited by the relevant bodies and to work out modalities for the issuance of certificates to graduates of the College of Education in Sagbama as well as ensuring that graduates of the School of Health Technology, Otuogidi, participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Speaking on behalf of the higher institutions, the NDU VC, Prof. Edoumiekumo, said most of the higher institutions in the state had issues of accreditation.

He appealed to the governor to support the institutions in their quest for accreditation.

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