The Rivers State Government has launched a sweeping investigation into allegations of extortion, bribery and the sale of examination materials at the State College of Nursing Sciences in Port Harcourt.
The move followed mounting complaints that some officials were demanding illegal payments from students for project approvals, guaranteed grades and access to examination questions.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, told journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday that the government had already suspended the head of the department allegedly linked to the scandal pending the outcome of the probe.
Although the ministry declined to name the affected department, Oreh said a five-member investigative committee headed by the Chief Medical Director of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Prof Chizindu Alikor, had been inaugurated to unravel the claims.
Other members include Dr Golden Ohonda, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, Dr Mariah Kukurubo and Mrs Sotonye Isokariari, while Mrs Deima Wigbo will serve as secretary.
Oreh said the action underscores the administration’s zero tolerance stance on corruption in the educational and health sectors.
“This briefing underscores the unwavering position of the Rivers State Government on maintaining integrity in all training institutions under our supervision,” she said.
She confirmed that state officials alerted the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and security agencies immediately after the allegations surfaced.
According to her, the suspended officer will be replaced with an acting head of department and the committee has been directed to independently probe every complaint traced to the school.
Oreh added that a forensic audit would be carried out on the recently concluded Year Two second-semester examinations to determine whether grades were influenced through bribery or leakages.
She assured students who provide credible information that they would be protected throughout the investigation.
The commissioner said the state government would also review the wider academic and financial systems in the institution to prevent future abuse.
She maintained, “The Ministry of Health will not entertain extortion or compromise the standards of professional examinations designed to produce competent healthcare workers for the state.
Anyone implicated will face the law.”