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Recalled RSUST Lecturers Yet To Be Reinstated …As ASUU Protests Proposed Re-Employment Of Fakae
Fifty-two days after the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike directed the management of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) to reinstate lectuers of the university, who had been on strike for about three years, the directive is yet to be carried out to the letter.
Chairman of the RSUST chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Puyate, Suobere Tadaerigha revealed this in an exclusive interview with The Tide, midweek in his office.
Unlike the State High courts which were opened with immediate effect, following the same directive by the Governor during his inaugural speech on Democracy day, May 29, 2015, he said, that the reinstatement and restoration of all rights and privileges of the lectures were yet to be obeyed.
Dr. Puyate stated that the management of RSUST under the leadership of Professor Barimene Fakae has stalled genuine effort by the affected ASUU members to get their due as directed by the Governor.
He explained that following the revelation of the alleged submission of a fake list of lecturers who were on strike to the Governor and the subsequent alarm raised by ASUU over bloated figures of money, there had not been an opportunity for ASUU to meet with the Vice Chancellor to harminise the list.
According to Dr. Puyate, this was the circumstance that led to the ASUU taking what he called “Proactive step”, by seeking to meet with the VC.
“As far as we know, the VC has been dragging his feet. He has not actually implemented the directives of the Governor.
‘The main thing he has been asked to do, which is to recall, reinstate and restate all the rights been on strike, he has not done that. As I speak to you know, we have not earned one Kobo”, he said.
Reacting to this, and comments made over over-bloated figures, the VC explained that the members of ASUU who were sacked do not know the workings of the university.
“Those making these comments have never been examination officers, they don’t even know anything about the University.
The point is that they are even low down lecturers.
“The truth is this, which ever list that was submitted, Government does not pay into a central fund. It pays into the pocket of individuals.
“So, if some mistakes were observed, as it were, they could have come back to administration to say this is where the problem is and then we try to solve the matter.
“it is a complex matter. What exactly do they call the directive that we were given? The people were away from work, we are trying to see how to sort out the problem and then pressure is on us in the midst of every other thing we are doing”, the VC said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers state University of Science and technology (RSUST) Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has kicked against the proposed re-employment of the out-going Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Barimene Fakae, by the University, saying, it runs contrary to the rules and regulations of the University system in Nigeria.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Tide, Chairman of the RSUST Chapter of ASUU, Dr. Suobere Tadaerigha Puyate stated that as a sitting Vice Chancellor, Fakae cannot employ himself as a staff at the expiration of his tenure as VC in RSUST.
According to him, Fakae “has not fulfilled the condition (to be employed). It is wrong because he has not followed the due process.
“if one has been appointed or hired by the government, …. He will always apply for what is called ‘leave of absence’ or secondment, which he will submit to his primary place of employment”, he said.
“If he is allowed, he will leave his office to the new position. After serving in the position, and if he wants to be retained as a staff at the end of his tenureship, he will have to go back to where he came from before applying to be a staff of the new place.
“the due process in a University is that his application will be sent to the ‘Appointment and Promotion Committee’, which will set up an interview panel for him, and he will be screened”, Puyate stated.
“If he is qualified, and satisfies the condition for employment or transfer of service, then he employed. For a sitting VC, he cannot succeed himself or employ himself”, the ASUU Chairman said.
On his part, Professor Fakae stated that there was nothing wrong with him being a staff at the expiration of his tenure as VC of RSUST as long as the Senate has approved his employment.
“I applied for a transfer of service to (Senate) Council, and Council approved. So, what is wrong with it?” Fakae retorted.
However, Puyate emphasised that Council, as stated by Fakae, is not vested with the responsibility of employment.
“What he (Fakae) is doing is tentamount to illegality because it is not Council that endorses one’s transfer of service, it is the Appointment and Promotion Committee (A&PC). When the Appointment and Promotion Committee has gone through its processes, it will pass it on to the registry, then to the registrar, who will formerly issue him an appointment of transfer of service.
“All these have not been done, and I know that Council has not approved his transfer of service. So, he is not a staff of this university”, the ASUU boss added.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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.