Flood: FCET Staff Cry Out For Help

Staff  of Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State who were displaced from their homes by this year’s flood disaster have called for their inclusion by the Rivers State Flood Management Committee Taskforce in the ongoing donation of palliatives to flood ravaged areas in the state. They also urged the Federal  Government,Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government   Council,the National Emergency Management Agency and multinational companies operating in the area to come to their aid.
According to a press release made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, they complained of being neglected by relevant authorities in view of the fact that they were also affected by the disaster.
According to the release,  no government agencies or multinational have sympathised with staff of the institution who have  suffered various loses as a result of the flood.
“Since over one month when  they were sacked from their various homes and their properties worth millions of Naira destroyed by the flood, nobody or government agencies have cared to ask how they are managing”.
They lamented that for the fact that they are not staying in IDP camps  does not mean they were not victims of the 2022 flood disaster and appealed for help from concerned authorities in terms of relief materials, and medical support  to cushion the effect of the disaster on them.
The release further said that Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku flood victims staff numbering over 600 with their family members are now taking refuge in the college students hostels, lecture halls, assembly halls while others are in hotels with relations begging for assistance from the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, the political parties, the 2022 ONELGA Flood Mitigation Committee, the Chairman of the local government Council, the Oba (Eze Ogba) of Ogbaland, NEMA, NAOC Ltd., Indoroma, Elf, NDDC, Bro. Felix Obuah, and other philanthropic bodies and individuals to come to their aid as they are suffering like other flood displaced persons.
The release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the   college,  Prince Charles Amadike-Otoboh,  stated that some of those displaced include members of the Academic Staff Senior and Junior Non-Teaching Staff belonging to Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) being the three unions existing in the College.
The chairmen of the unions in the college, Comrades Richard Onuotu, Pakaye Ekene and Ireju Wokocha of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) respectively, when contacted said they have comprehensive lists of genuine flood victims of their union members and wondered why over one month since their members were displaced by the flood disaster, no assistance has come to them from any government official, companies, philanthropists, individuals and organisations, describing it as an open neglect.
.They however thanked the management of the College led by the Provost, Dr. Emmanuel Ikenyiri,  for providing some of the affected victims shelter in the College students hostels and some lecture halls, assembly halls, among others.

By: John Bibor