The National Coalition of NGOs and Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (NCNCSON) has appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas to intervene in the leadership crisis at the Taraba State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Jalingo, to prevent the institution from collapsing.  

In a statement signed by the coalition's state president, Fidelis Nashuka, NCNCSON expressed concerns that the ongoing crisis threatens the college’s reputation and its global standing in producing quality nurses and midwives.  

“We are deeply concerned about the leadership challenges facing the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Jalingo. This institution, celebrated for its contributions to nursing education under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, is now at risk of losing its credibility due to management issues,” the statement read.  

The coalition highlighted key issues, including non-adherence to retirement protocols, lack of transparency in appointments, and non-compliance with the standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).  

To address these challenges, the coalition made the following recommendations: facilitate a swift and transparent transition to a competent leadership team; ensure adherence to civil service rules and regulatory guidelines regarding appointments and retirements; reassign the college to the Ministry of Tertiary Education for better management, with the Ministry of Health as a strategic partner; establish transparent, merit-based processes for appointing leaders to uphold professionalism and fairness; empower the governing council to play a more active role in institutional management and succession planning; and invest in leadership training programs to enhance administrative and academic standards while promoting capacity building.  

The coalition called on the Taraba State Government to investigate and resolve the crisis to restore the institution's integrity and align its operations with the governor’s policies for educational excellence.  

The statement also reaffirmed NCNCSON's commitment to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to ensure accountability and sustainable development in Taraba’s education sector.