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NASS To Investigate UNN Students’ Protest
Apparently disturbed by the violent demonstration by students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) which led to the immediate closure of the institution last Saturday, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Chief Ayogu Eze has called on National Assembly to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the upheaval to avoid further unrest at the university.
Senator Ayogu who spoke to reporters in Enugu, Sunday, condemned the ugly development at UNN, saying it was high time sanity was brought to the nation’s citadel of learning which he noted had been the pride of not only the South East, but the nation in general.
His words: “My attention has been drawn to the riot by Students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka on Saturday, January 16, 2010 leading to the destruction of valuable property. I condemn this action by the students in very strong terms. I have however studied the situation leading to this sad development and I have found out that the management of the university has a lot of questions to answer. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Bartholomew Okolo has been most inaccessible to the Students’ Union leadership and where he is, has been most intransigent in dealing with issues of administration”
According to him, “The immediate cause of the riot was an attempt to raise school fees by as high as 150 percent without, as it were, taking all stakeholders on board. As the Senator representing the area where the university is located, I know next to nothing about what is going on in the university. Since this riot broke out, I have called the Vice Chancellor over 20 times and sent text messages all of which have been ignored. Gone are the days when Vice Chancellors operated like mini-gods and looked down on everybody”, he stressed.
Chief Ayogu who did not hide his feelings during the chat further said, “If a senator can be ignored so brazenly, only God knows how this Vice Chancellor relates to his subordinates. I wish to ask the Committee on Education in the Senate and House of Representatives to conduct full hearing on this matter with a view to getting to the root of this matter”.
He also made it clear that the people of his district were also worried about reported moves by the Vice Chancellor and the school authorities to move out professional courses from the school, adding “We are major stakeholders in that university and refuse to be ignored in the affairs of the school”.
In a swift reaction, the embattled Vice Chancellor of UNN, Professor Barth Okolo, dismissed rumours making the rounds that a hike in school fees ignited the recent violent demonstration by students of the institution. Professor Okolo , who addressed newsmen at the Enugu Campus of the university, also insisted there was no time that the management of the institution proposed any hike in students school fees, maintaining that students did not organise the unrest. He accused some staff of the institution who contested the position of the vice chancellor with him of masterminding the protest that led to wanton destruction of properties of the institution, saying that the sponsors of the unrest were not happy with his administration’s giant strides within a short time. His words: “The protest was not caused by any hike in school fees. We never proposed any increment in school fees. We did not increase students’ schools fees. Students did not arrange the protest. Some miscreants who contested the position of the VC with me and failed arranged the protest. We have their names. They destroyed the new things that we brought to the institution. “As I said before, there is a process for school fees increment; it is not our work to increase school fees. The management has no powers to determine school fees. We assured the Student Union Government ( SUG) and other stakeholders that they will be informed when schools fees will be increased”, the embattled VC added. It would be recalled that students of UNN, Saturday January 16, 2010 embarked on violent demonstration destroying properties of the university worth millions of Naira which led to the immediate closure of the institution by the authorities of the school.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.