19th September, 2012
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of oil-rich Rivers State,South-South Nigeria,today directed the Ministry of Finance to stop further payment of the salaries of lecturers who are not reporting for work to teach the students in Rivers State University of Science Technology ,RSUST,Port Harcourt.
The Governor gave the directive after getting a briefing from the Governing Council of the University on the strike action embarked upon by Lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities,ASUU,protesting the appointment of Professor Barineme Fakae,as the Vice-Chancellor.
Amaechi reiterated that the appointment of Prof. Fakae is non-negotiable and a foregone conclusion because as Visitor he passed through the due process required by Law in the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.
He lashed at the University lecturers for abandoning their primary responsibilities of teaching and conducting research for politics about who becomes the Vice-Chancellor.
Meanwhile,the management of RSUST,have started its second semester examination for students despite the strike by the lecturers.
ASUU nationwide also embarked on a symbolic one day strike in other universities in solidarity with the striking RSUST teachers.
But Governor Amaechi, rather than bow to their demands, asked the teachers to challenge his action in the court of law.