PAMO University Challenges Rivers Assembly Over Scholarship Probe

The PAMO University of Medical Sciences, represented by Registrar Peter Akubuiroh, stated that its vice-chancellor could not attend the Rivers State House of Assembly’s Ad-Hoc Committee investigation into the state government’s scholarship arrangement due to perceived political motivations. The university had previously sent a representative to the committee on September 16, but the committee did not recognize this representative or accept the submitted documents.

PAMO accused the assembly of prematurely alleging mismanagement of scholarship funds without evidence and stated that their requests for a retraction and apology had not been addressed. The university clarified that it has fulfilled its obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the scholarship scheme, which covers tuition, feeding, and accommodation for Rivers State indigenes.

Currently, about 600 scholarship beneficiaries are enrolled at PAMO, and the institution has been covering their expenses despite outstanding school-fee payments, warning that the ongoing dispute could disrupt their academic programs.