The University of Calabar’s alumni have appealed to the federal government to grant the institution a waiver to recruit personnel to fill various vacancy spaces in the institution.

President of the alumni association, Paul Ishiemomoh, made the appeal in an interview in Calabar on Monday.

Mr Ishiemomoh said that the appeal became expedient in the face of the ongoing issue regarding the more than 300 dentistry students of the university, whose admissions were on the verge of being terminated.

The institution’s dentistry department was embroiled in controversy a few weeks ago over claims of the university admitting more students than the number officially accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

The affected students, some of whom are in their fourth and fifth years of study, stated that they were issued letters summoning them to a meeting regarding what the school authorities described as “non-regular” admissions.

However, vice-chancellor Florence Obi explained that the problem predated her administration and pledged to intensify efforts to rectify the crisis. She added that the crisis resulted from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s refusal to induct the 2016 dentistry students of the institution.

Mr Ishiemomoh said that several other departments may face similar challenges over accreditation issues if they are not resolved now. He noted that aside from the challenge of facilities, there was also the challenge of manpower.

He called on the education ministry to immediately release funds meant for the upgrading of some selected universities’ medical schools across the country. He also said that the institution was not entirely to blame for the admission beyond its quota.

Mr Ishiemomoh also said that the senate, as the body in charge of academic activities and also in charge of setting the cut-off mark and the number of students to be admitted, were complacent in the issue.

(NAN)