Unitech ‘broke’

Staff at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology went without their pay last Friday, sending alarm throughout the Taraka campus that the Lae based university may be broke.
The staff, including lecturers on study leave overseas, were also not paid their three per cent wage increase approved by the National Government and paid out to all other public servants in the previous pay week.
Senior staff, who did not want to be named, informed the Post-Courier last night that some 600 staff checked their bank accounts all throughout the weekend to find that their money had not gone in.
“WE were informed that our pay would go in on Friday morning and we went to the bank but came away disappointed. The explanation we get was that the university has no money in its account,” a senior lecturer said when speaking on condition of anonymity.
The staff said the university was in the red and it was not able to pay its staff and settle outstanding bills, estimated at close to K10 million.
For instance, the university owes money for the use of electricity and PNG Power Ltd issued a 48 hour notice on the December 18, warning of a power cut to the campus if the debt was not settled.
In that notice, PNG Power demanded the immediate settlement of K608,859.05.
Reports indicate that the university owes about K1 million to the catering company (National Catering Service) and thousands of kina to a law firm for legal services.
The reports indicate that staff were owed entitlements and remittance to NASFUND and the University Staff Savings and Loans Society had not gone in since February last year.
“The university is in the red by K6 - K10 million. You just have to add up all other costs that are incurred by this institution and you will know that the university is in the red.
“And its really red hot,” a source on campus said.
The Post-Courier understands that the Vice-Chancellor Misty Baloiloi is overseas and could not be reached for comment. The acting vice-chancellor Professor Rahim Milani and the Registrar Allan Sako were also not available for comment.

Well there you go academics, the sins of the SEM has caught up with them.

Hope few of them get fired.

Since the strike by NASA memebers last year the day-2-day activities(academic activities, staff contracts, etc) appears to be run directly by the chancellor and a little niche within council(made up of wanabe politicians and cronies). This brings to question the role of the chancellor and the council. Please can someone out there spell out the role of the chancellor?

Don't even ask about the current VC, his no where to be found! Actually his just(including rest of SEM) a rubber stamp nowadays...the way i see it....

Anon,

Thank you for this information, many of us have a believe that VC is a very good man, God fearing one at that, I hope you assessment of him is a fair one. Isn't there anything that can be done by the Office of Higher Education.

JB

Fellow country men, its really a pity to see the way Unitech has being run at the moment.

Seriously, for change and better things to happen at that institutions we need to have the existing VC and his cronies, including the chancellor, all removed. Universities are supposed to be places where changes occur. Changes in the lives of young ones entering the institution as well as brining change to the nation.

Its a place of openness in ideology, morality, and culture. The administration as well as academics should be open to constructive criticisms in all aspects of life. It is there that people should be taught to have opinions about things that happen around us. If people running the place cannot allow opinions to be aired, then the result of the institution will have acquired this trait. Are these values we want in our future leaders?

It is a technological institution, and as we know, technology is based on dynamic knowledge base. People should be taught to learning about learning. Those who teach should also be well versed in the art of knowledge mutation. The environment at the institution should be organized to allow for changes to be effected smoothly. If the administrators fail to see this fundamental issue then they should not be there in the first place. With due respect, the current VC chancellor is a good man, but he has outlived his usefulness at Unitech. Current visions are being built on dreams, dreams which derive from attachment to stagnant minds surrounding the dreamer. The place needs change, theres no doubt about that. Not changes in physical structures but a change in mentality, ideology, culture.

Staff need to feel a sense of belonging and need to know that they are professionals in their own right. That they are contributing meaningfully to the organization and to the nation. The administration needs to incorporate transparency in management, and facilitate delegation of functions. Review and prioritize functions. Live within their means. Put the house in order before they can go on to dreaming bigger things.

Whiskey In A Jar

According to sunday chronicles, the council has been replaced with a 12-member interim group, with sir Nagora Bogan as interim chancellor, and David conn as interim Pro-chancellor.

That now is a breath of fresh air......

This is great news for unitech. Misty and the guys should be investigated using the full force of the law!

i have a chance to read some of the corrupt dealings of Unitech Administration under the VCship of Misty. sounds like, Unitech was/is run manage as private or family business.

people like Misty Baloiloi and his entire council and administration has to be removed including their husband-man (Chancellor).

why are you calling him man husband? do you know somethings that we don't know?