27th March, 2011
The governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State, Dr. Abiye Sekibo expresses concern over the numerous strikes and protests, and cautions the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi to bury his ego and look into the welfare of lecturers in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education.
Dr Sekibo faults the state administration for owing lecturers of the two tertiary institutions and refusing to implement the FG/ASUU agreement signed last year which all other federal and state universities across the country have implemented.
He decries the incessant strikes in the state, which depicts the insensitivity of the government of Rotimi Amaechi and the level of decay in the administrative machinery.
He observes that “never before in the history of the state have we had so many strikes lined up at the same time,†and urges Amaechi to sort things out with teachers, doctors and lecturers so as to allay the fears in women and children occasioned by the worsening welfare in the society.
Dr Sekibo further regrets the unprecedented protests by pupils of primary schools and pregnant women, and advises government to stop lining the pockets of its political allies through contracts and rather address the problems in the state.
“If government does not resolve its problem with lecturers, RSUST might be shut down again after March 30, 2011. I urge Amaechi to look into the welfare of striking workers in the state in order to avert a total breakdown of the socio-economic and health status of the people,†he said.
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt